Type 1 Diabetes Specialist

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Southland Renal Medical Group

Nephrologists located in the Greater Long Beach and Orange County, CA Area

About 30% of people with Type 1 diabetes develop kidney failure. Managing both diabetes and kidney disease can be difficult. However, the experienced team at Southland Renal Medical Group, with kidney treatment centers in Long Beach, Downey, Fountain Valley, and Los Alamitos, California, specializes in kidney health and can provide the care you need to manage both your diabetes and kidney disease. For a consultation, book an appointment online or by phone today.

Type 1 Diabetes Q & A

What is Type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic health condition in which your blood sugars are higher than normal. With Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas is no longer able to make the hormone insulin that helps transport sugar from your bloodstream into your cell.

You may develop this type of diabetes if your immune system attacks and destroys the cells that make insulin. Type 1 diabetes most often occurs in children and young adults.

Because your pancreas no longer makes insulin, you need insulin injections to help keep blood sugar levels under control. You also need to make modifications to your diet to help maintain normal blood sugar.

Having Type 1 diabetes increases your risk of kidney disease since elevated blood sugar can damage the small blood vessels in your kidneys.

 

What are the signs that I may have kidney disease?

Because Type 1 diabetes increases your risk of kidney disease, your regular physician closely monitors your kidney function, as well as your blood sugar, to identify changes early. Finding protein in your urine is usually the first indicator that you have kidney damage. Over time, you may begin to experience other signs and symptoms, such as:

  • Increased urination at night
  • Swelling in your legs or ankles
  • Leg cramps
  • Itchy skin
  • Nausea and vomiting, especially in the morning
  • Feeling weak

You may also notice that you don’t need to take as much insulin to manage your blood sugar.

How is Type 1 diabetes with kidney disease treated?

Treatment for your Type 1 diabetes with kidney disease may depend on the severity of the kidney damage and your stage of kidney function. In the early stages of your kidney disease, the experienced team at Southland Renal Medical Group may recommend medication and diet modification to help slow down the progression of kidney damage.

If you’re in kidney failure, your physician at Southland Renal Medical Group can review your treatment options, including dialysis or kidney transplantation, and help determine the best treatment for you.

Type 1 diabetes with kidney disease requires ongoing medical management. To get help from a team of experts, call Southland Renal Medical Group or book an appointment online today.

 
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