Kidney function is one of the areas of concern for Diabetes patients, considering that they are at a high risk of acquiring a wide variety of adverse health outcomes while on the progression of their disease. But recently, a new study aims to spark further analysis into ways to tackle these disorders with dietary potassium.
Diabetes is known to be a growing problem across the world. In America alone, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has already estimated that 29.1 million people already have diabetes.
As per CDC, they're also anticipating that over the next few decades, this number will be doubled or tripled. And if their prediction is correct, by 2050, between 1 in 3 and 1 in 5 American may be diabetic.
Moreover, the search for other dietary quality risks factors that might be easier to correct.
As an important part in the treatment process, controlling diet in diabetes is a must watched factor. Low-sodium and reduced-calorie diets are the most usually being recommended.
A healthy, well-balanced diet with an extra focus on reducing salt is also one of the standard diets that experts advise for diabetics.
The Role of Potassium
Known as a vital mineral involved to normalize the function of all cells, organs and tissues, Potassium - along with chloride, sodium, calcium and magnesium - is also charged particle that contains electrolytes
According to Medical News Today, apart from maintaining bone health and fluid balance, Potassium also helps to conduct nerve impulses that regulate the rhythm of the heart and control muscle contraction.
Making sure that the potassium amounts are maintained at the correct levels is one of the kidney's many roles, considering that too much amount of it or too little can be equally dangerous.
Dr. Shin-ichi Araki, at Shiga University of Medical Science in Japan, conducted a research that aims to open new possibilities of investigation into the relationship between dietary potassium and its adverse health consequences in diabetic patients.
Dr. Araki said that incorporating potassium in diabetes diet plans and raising its portions more than the usual might lead to the prevention of ESRD and CVD from developing in individuals who have the disease. However, the study is still not conclusive, as investigation is still ongoing.
Patients should also watch out for hyperkalemia - elevated levels of potassium in the blood. The new drug they're developing might just help regulate potassium levels of patients who have diabetic kidneys.
