3rd Edition Oct 2005
Over time, diabetes can lead to heart and blood vessel disease,
blindness, kidney failure, and foot ulcers, among other
conditions.The Complications we are covering this month are
Kidney Failure. Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the
kidneys. Even when drugs and diet are able to control diabetes, the
disease can lead to kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy) and
kidney failure.
Healthy kidneys act like filters to clean the blood of waste products
and extra fluid. Damaged kidneys do not clean the blood well.
Instead, waste products and fluid build up in the blood. People with
kidney failure must either have dialysis treatment (to substitute for
some of the filtering functions of the kidneys) or receive a kidney
transplant.
FDA regulates dialysis equipment. The agency does not inspect
dialysis clinics--that is the responsibility of each state health
department--but FDA approves the equipment used in dialysis.
Recently, the agency has begun requiring that hemodialyzer filters
and tubes be tested and approved in realistic clinical situations. For
example, in about eight out of 10 hemodialysis treatments, the
equipment is reused to cut costs, although it was originally tested,
labeled and approved for one-time use only. FDA is now requiring
manufacturers to prove that filters and tubes are safe and effective
when reused. FDA is also taking a closer look at water purifying
equipment used in dialysis. Pure water is crucial to hemodialysis,
since impurities can kill a patient. FDA has recently begun enforcing
regulations that require the manufacturers of water purifiers to
prove their devices are safe and effective.
For more information about the diagnosis and treatment of kidney
failure, use the following links:
blindness, kidney failure, and foot ulcers, among other
conditions.The Complications we are covering this month are
Kidney Failure. Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the
kidneys. Even when drugs and diet are able to control diabetes, the
disease can lead to kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy) and
kidney failure.
Healthy kidneys act like filters to clean the blood of waste products
and extra fluid. Damaged kidneys do not clean the blood well.
Instead, waste products and fluid build up in the blood. People with
kidney failure must either have dialysis treatment (to substitute for
some of the filtering functions of the kidneys) or receive a kidney
transplant.
FDA regulates dialysis equipment. The agency does not inspect
dialysis clinics--that is the responsibility of each state health
department--but FDA approves the equipment used in dialysis.
Recently, the agency has begun requiring that hemodialyzer filters
and tubes be tested and approved in realistic clinical situations. For
example, in about eight out of 10 hemodialysis treatments, the
equipment is reused to cut costs, although it was originally tested,
labeled and approved for one-time use only. FDA is now requiring
manufacturers to prove that filters and tubes are safe and effective
when reused. FDA is also taking a closer look at water purifying
equipment used in dialysis. Pure water is crucial to hemodialysis,
since impurities can kill a patient. FDA has recently begun enforcing
regulations that require the manufacturers of water purifiers to
prove their devices are safe and effective.
For more information about the diagnosis and treatment of kidney
failure, use the following links:
By: Denise
