3 Ways That I Take Care of My Kidneys

The only words I heard from my doctor were, "Your kidney numbers are dropping." What?! No way, I have a lot more living to do.

It's not just about blood sugar

I'm here to tell you about something essential; you need to hear it. When I got my diabetes diagnosis at 34 years old, my doctor urged me to not only monitor my blood sugar levels but also to take care of my heart and kidney health.

Additional health risks with type 2 diabetes

People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing kidney conditions if diabetes is not well-managed.¹

So my doctor was concerned for my kidney health, and we also had my regular kidney function checkups. I was not feeling this then, but I knew in the back of my mind that I had to do better if I wanted to live a long, productive life.

What I do to support my kidney health

After my diabetes diagnosis and consulting with my doctor, there were 3 new habits that I made part of my daily routine to support my kidney health.

1. I stay hydrated

The first habit was to stay hydrated. Along with drinking plenty of water, I started drinking green juice, and believe me when I say it worked well for me, but it was not easy. I wouldn't say I liked the taste of green juice. Yuck! But it kept me hydrated and seemed to improve my gut health too.

How did I know that it was working? It was written all over my face. I got a glow on my face that I never had in years, even after doing skin care. I started eating spinach and healthier foods. It worked for me in more ways than just for my kidneys.

2. I stay active

I kept myself physically active by figuring out what activities I enjoyed. My friends were active, too, so they motivated me.

I would either go for a brisk walk or meditate to relieve my body from all the piled-up stress, overwork, and stiff muscles. It helped me stay fresh mentally and increased my concentration level, as I was less distracted by my body pains and cramps.

3. I stay nourished

I started eating mindfully, ensuring that I ate a balanced amount of nutrients each day, including protein, healthy fats, and fiber, and monitoring sugar and carbs. I added more salad, daily fresh fruit, fish, nuts, and sunflower oil to my eating plan.

Make a conscious choice to boost kidney health

It sounds like I followed my habits perfectly, but in reality, I was not perfect. Making a conscious choice is always in our control. Choosing a healthy body, above all, is a choice that you make every day.

I fell off the wagon more times than I can count. I've even gained weight over the years. I will be 65 in a few days. I want to say that changes in lifestyle go longer than any medicine or treatment.

I make this choice every day, and of course, I have my good and bad days, but I bounce back. We all do; I have lived with type 2 diabetes for 30 years now and have been off of all medications for a few weeks now! Stay healthy, my friends. We got this!