Are you diabetic? Here's why you should watch your sodium intake

For people with diabetes staying healthy requires more than just blood sugar control Careful diet choices especially reducing salt intake are crucial because excess salt can worsen complications and increase health risks say healthcare expertsAhead of World Diabetes Day on November 14 top healthcare experts here highlighted the dangers of excessive salt consumption for individuals with diabetesAccording to Dr Praveen Kumar Kulkarni Senior Consultant Internal Medicine Specialist KIMS Hospitals one of the primary concerns with excessive salt consumption for people with diabetes is its impact on blood pressureldquoDiabetes already places individuals at an increased risk of developing high blood pressure hypertension a condition that exacerbates the longterm complications of the disease Salt causes the body to retain water which can raise blood pressure by increasing the volume of blood circulating through the blood vessels Over time this added strain on the cardiovascular system can lead to more severe health problemsrdquo said Dr Praveen Kumar KulkarnildquoHypertension is a common and serious complication of diabetes It heightens the risk of heart disease stroke and kidney damage all of which are already elevated for individuals with diabetesrdquo he addedDr G Sandeep Reddy Consultant endocrinologist Kamineni Hospitals pointed out that the American Heart Association AHA recommends that individuals with diabetes or high blood pressure aim to limit their sodium intake to not more than 1500 milligrams per dayldquoThis can help manage blood pressure and lower the likelihood of lifethreatening cardiovascular events Diabetic nephropathy or kidney damage is another major concern for people with diabetes Over time elevated blood sugar levels can damage the kidneys ability to filter waste and fluids from the bloodrdquo he explainedldquoExcessive salt intake can further harm the kidneys as it places additional strain on these vital organs by requiring them to filter out more sodium and water When the kidneys are already compromised by diabetes the added burden of processing high levels of salt can accelerate kidney damage leading to chronic kidney disease CKD or even kidney failure Kidney disease is one of the leading causes of death for people with diabetes By cutting back on salt individuals can help protect kidney function and reduce the risk of more severe kidneyrelated complicationsrdquo said Dr SandeepDr Usha Rani General medicine senior consultant and Diabetes management at Aster Prime Hospital believes that the risk of heart disease and stroke is significantly higher in people with diabetes due to factors like high blood pressure poor circulation and nerve damageldquoDiabetics have thickened blood vessels and increased the likelihood of arterial blockages that can result in heart attacks or strokes This risk is even greater for those with both diabetes and high blood pressure Reducing salt is essential for cardiovascular health and lowering the risk of heart disease and strokerdquo she saidSpeaking about associated risks Dr Namburi Anil Kumar Senior Consultant ndash Internal Medicine ampamp Diabetologist SLG Hospitals stated that the daily requirement of salt is 5gm per day which is just under a teaspoonldquoDiabetics must reduce it from their diet In addition to raising blood pressure and worsening kidney function excessive salt can cause the body to retain more fluid leading to swelling or edema This condition is especially concerning for people with diabetes as many individuals with the disease also experience peripheral neuropathy nerve damage and poor circulation Fluid retention can exacerbate these issues leading to painful swelling in the extremities and contributing to a feeling of heaviness or discomfort Swelling can also impair mobility and increase the risk of infections especially for people who may already have poor blood flow to their feet and legsrdquo he saidHe believes that by reducing salt consumption people with diabetes can minimise fluid retention and protect their overall health For those managing diabetes reducing salt intake is an important strategy for managing blood pressure protecting kidney function and improving cardiovascular health While cutting back on salt can be challenging itrsquos a manageable and essential step in reducing the longterm risks associated with diabetesAlso ReadConsuming too much salt Its harming your health say expertsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever