Your doctor may have told you that you have diabetes. Or maybe someone in your family has diabetes. We all know that diabetes is a problem with controlling blood sugar levels. But did you know that diabetes also increases your risk of developing kidney stones? You may not have heard much about this. But there is a bigger connection between the two than you think. Let's talk about this today.
Why do people with diabetes develop kidney stones?
Simply put, if you have Type 2 Diabetes, it means that your body cannot use the hormone insulin properly. Insulin is the most important thing that helps keep our blood sugar levels at the right level. So, when it doesn't work properly, blood sugar levels tend to stay high. This high blood sugar can affect your eyes, heart, nerves, and even your kidneys.
Research has found that people with diabetes are about twice as likely to develop kidney stones as people without diabetes. It is also said that this risk is slightly higher for people who use insulin injections to treat diabetes. If diabetes is not well controlled, meaning that blood sugar levels are very high, the risk of kidney stones is even higher.
So why is this happening? Let's look at the reasons.
Kidney stones form when there is too much calcium, oxalate, and uric acid in your urine. Imagine adding sugar to a glass of water and dissolving it. If you add a little sugar, it dissolves. But if you add a lot of sugar at once, it won't dissolve and will remain at the bottom of the glass, right? That's how it is. When the amount of these substances in your urine increases, they can't dissolve and form small crystals. These crystals clump together and become kidney stones.
Insulin resistance, which occurs in diabetes, means that the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin, can increase the amount of calcium in your urine. This is one direct cause of kidney stones.
Additionally, when you have type 2 diabetes, your body's insulin levels can increase. This high insulin level can make your urine more acidic . When your urine is acidic, you are more likely to develop a type of kidney stone called uric acid stones.
Do you understand? These small changes in the body due to diabetes are what pave the way for kidney stones to form.
Other causes of kidney stones
In addition to diabetes, these things can also increase the risk of developing kidney stones:
- Eating a diet high in protein, sugar, and especially salt .
- Weight gain (obesity).
- Having other diseases that affect the kidneys.
- If someone in your family has had kidney stones before (hereditary influence).
- Some surgeries performed on the intestines.
- Some medications you take.
What are the symptoms of kidney stones?
In most cases, kidney stones, if detected early, do not cause significant, long-term damage to the kidneys. However, the pain they cause can sometimes be unbearable. However, small stones may pass through the urine without any pain. Larger stones may cause the following symptoms.
| Symptom | How does that feel? |
|---|---|
| Pain or burning when urinating | Burning or pain when urinating. |
| Blood in the urine | The color of the urine may be pink, red, or brown. It may even be invisible to the naked eye. |
| Severe pain in the back, groin, or lower abdomen | This is the main symptom. It starts suddenly, and it's a sharp, stabbing pain that comes and goes. |
| Nausea and vomiting | The pain may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. |
If you have symptoms like these, it is very important to see your doctor immediately .
Usually used to treat small stones,
- You may be told to take painkillers (such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen). But you should only take these if your kidneys are functioning normally. So, don't take them without consulting your doctor.
- They tell you to drink plenty of water . About 8-10 glasses a day.
- You can also be told to wait until the stone passes out with urine on its own.
However, if the stone is large, blocking the urinary tract, or if there is a complication such as an infection, surgery may be necessary to remove the stone.
How to prevent kidney stones?
The best thing to do is to prevent the disease before it develops. There are several things you can do to prevent kidney stones if you have diabetes.
1. Control blood sugar levels
This is the most important and first thing you can do. Talk to your doctor and get your diabetes under control. This may involve medication, lifestyle changes, or both. The better you keep your blood sugar levels, the lower your risk of developing kidney stones.
2. Drink plenty of water.
Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to prevent kidney stones. Try to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day. Drinking water dilutes your urine. This prevents the stone-forming substances we talked about from clumping together and forming.
3. Eat a healthy, low-salt diet
Experts recommend a heart-healthy diet like the DASH diet, which includes more fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, low-fat dairy, fish, and lean meats.
However, be careful with animal protein. Eating too much of things like red meat, chicken, and seafood can increase your uric acid levels, which can increase your risk of kidney stones. If you eat meat, a serving size of about a deck of cards is enough. Remember, always talk to your doctor before making any major changes to your diet.
4. Exercise
Exercising not only helps you lose weight but also helps you control your diabetes. But don't forget to drink plenty of water while you exercise. If you're not sure what kind of exercise is right for you, your doctor can help you find an exercise program that's right for you.
Take-Home Message
- If you have diabetes, you are at a higher risk of developing kidney stones than others. It is important to be aware of this.
- The best way to prevent kidney stones is to keep your blood sugar levels under good control.
- It is essential to drink enough water daily. This dilutes the urine and prevents the formation of stones.
- Eat a balanced diet low in salt and animal protein (especially red meat) and rich in vegetables and fruits.
- Always consult your doctor before making any major changes to your diet or lifestyle.
- If you experience any symptoms related to kidney stones (severe pain, blood in the urine), seek medical advice without delay.
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