November 27, 2000
Complications
Question from Liverpool, Merseyside, England.:
When someone with type 2 diabetes loses one kidney how will that affect the remaining kidney?
Answer:
When one kidney is removed, the remaining kidney picks up the burden of doing the work previously shared by two. If a disease of the kidney involves only one of the two, the amount of work shared over time shifts toward the healthy kidney. Having diabetes places an additional burden on the remaining kidney. There is the possibility that having diabetes and the other kidney could have negative effect, in terms of function. Such a patient should have close follow-up, rigorous control of blood sugars and blood pressure, and have a healthy lifestyle to negate any of the detrimental effects. They should also have kidney function monitored closely over time.
JTL