Being Kind to Your Kidneys (Part 1)

By Amy Campbell When was the last time you thought about your kidneys? Was it when you had a kidney test (a microalbumin test, to be exact) at your doctor's office? Many of us don't give much thought to these two bean-shaped organs, but if you have diabetes, you may be worried about developing diabetic kidney disease. But as with other complications of diabetes, you can take steps to lower your risk of having kidney problems. What do they do, anyway? Let's face it — the kidneys are not the most glamorous or exciting of organs. But they're essential. And they do more than just excrete waste products. First, you might be interested in knowing that each of your kidneys is the size of a fist. They're located near the middle of your back, just underneath your rib cage. Here's the run-down of the role that the kidneys play in our health: • They remove waste products from the blood. Your kidneys filter about 200 quarts of blood every day, removing 2 quarts of waste products that come from food and the breakdown of tissues, as well as water. These 2 quarts are in the form of urine, which is stored in the bladder. • They filter out and retain substances that the body needs, such as sodium, phosphorous, and potassium. • They help to balance the body's fluids. • They help regulate blood pressure by releasing a hormone called renin. • They release a hormone called erythropoietin that triggers bone marrow to make red blood cells. • They produce c...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - Category: Diabetes Authors: Source Type: blogs