Premier Surgical’s Access Center helps patients suffering from Kidney Disease.
Diabetes mellitus is a lifelong disease that has been growing at an epidemic rate in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 30 million Americans have diabetes. There are two basic types of diabetes; classified as type 1 and type 2.
Type 1, or insulin-dependent diabetes often begins in childhood. It is an autoimmune condition as the body attacks its own pancreas, keeping it from producing insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It accounts for 95 percent of diabetes cases in adults. This type of diabetes is often associated with poor lifestyle choices. People who are overweight and with a family history of diabetes are at higher risk of developing type 2. It can often be controlled with weight management, regular physical activity, and dietary changes.
Diabetes and Kidney Disease
The rise in blood glucose can sometimes result to a rise in chemicals found in the kidneys. These chemicals tend to damage the filters of the kidney, and make the kidneys “leak” abnormal amounts of protein from the blood into the urine. So, when diabetes is left unmanaged, it may lead to this complication, which is called diabetic kidney disease.
Also known as diabetic nephropathy, this condition results from damage in the filters in the kidneys. Damage to the kidney’s’ filters can also result to accumulation of more salt, water, and waste material in the blood.
Renal failure develops when kidney damage is left untreated. Dialysis is an option for patients with kidney failure. By removing excess salt, water, and wastes from the body, dialysis can help in keeping the body in balance.
Premier Access Center
Vascular access is an important passageway to the bloodstream created by a minor surgery to be used for dialysis. Considered as the patient’s lifeline, the vascular access is what makes the dialysis possible. The vascular access should allow the full benefit of dialysis to help the patient feel as well as possible.
Two of the types of vascular access are the arteriovenous (AV) fistula and the AV graft. The AV fistula is a connection done by a vascular surgeon of an artery to a vein. The AV graft is a looped plastic tube that connects an artery to a vein.
Premier Surgical Vascular Access Center in Knoxville provides exceptional care for Access patients and their families. Our highly trained vascular physicians and staff use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and the latest in minimally invasive vascular access surgery techniques. We offer comprehensive on-site diagnostic expertise and educational services to patients who are at risk for kidney disease. Our dedicated Access Coordinator RN who coordinates patients’ care with area dialysis clinics. Our team will recommend and provide the vascular access best suited for your needs.
For more information about Premier Vascular Access Center, please visit our Access webpage.