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A Silent Pandemic: Prediabetes to Diabetes to Chronic Renal Disease

By Prem Nand, Clinical Dietitian - Nutritionist, NZRD Copyright: Maximised Nutrition Ltd

Around 20% of adults in New Zealand have pre-diabetes. Recent statistics show that more younger people are developing pre-diabetes.

According to American Diabetes Association, 70 percent of these will go on to develop diabetes.

Since 77% of NZ population is over 18 years old (3.8 million), this means 770 000 will develop pre-diabetes. Of these, 70 percent will develop Diabetes (which is around half million people), and of these, 40% are at risk of developing chronic renal failure (around 215K) or 4% of the population.

Chronic renal failure is the gradual loss of kidney function, where the kidney is not able to filter wastes and remove excess fluid from your body.

Each kidney is made of tiny filtration particles called nephrons. High blood sugar, over time, can damage both the blood vessels that surround the nephrons and also the nephrons themselves.

Once chronic renal failure develops, the diet restrictions become more important. One needs balance the protein, carbohydrate, fats and also specific nutrients like potassium, sodium, phosphorus in diet to prevent progression of the kidney disease. If the kidney continues to be damaged, it can lead to a place where dialysis is needed.

To prevent all this, it comes down to having the right nutrition and lifestyle plan that can help you control your blood sugar levels to within a healthy range.

What can we do about this?

If you are overweight or obese and over 35 years old, get yourself screened for pre-diabetes. This can be done by getting a blood test for HbA1c (through your GP or through Maximised Nutrition).

Other options are:

- losing weight is a good option.

- Having a diet that is low in processed carbohydrate and sugar, that has moderate carbohydrate intake, moderate protein intake, good healthy fats and lots of fruit and vegetables is a good option.

- Exercising at least 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week.

I am a believer of an individualised nutrition plan (regardless of your weight). This way you are fuelling your body for life. So do consider doing this.

Please note that I have been both a Renal Dietitian and also a Food Service Dietitian where I helped develop multi-code menus (Diabetes type 1, 2, Renal High Protein, Renal Low Protein, Renal Diabetic, Low Potassium, Low Sodium Menus for previously known as Northland District Health Board).