eating sugar

[vinadhun2]

I have no diabetes, no B.P issue , but creatinine is 1.95.

Is eating sugar bad for kidneys, even if you are not suffering from Diabetes.

My H1bAC is 5.1

[CatOnACloud]

hi! Oh how i wish i could eat sugar without a care. Of course sugar is bad for kidneys…it’s bad for everything. Once a year i allow birthday cake, my all time fave, but yeah moderation in most ways is much better for you depending on your particular circumstances

[vinadhun2 in reply to CatOnACloud]

Thanks for your feedback. However, since I am not suffering from diabetes, may be eating sugar is O.K. for me.This is what kidney foundation article states

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador]

Here is link to article from National Kidney Foundation explaining results of sugar for CKD. kidney.org/content/sugar-an...

[vinadhun2 in reply to orangecity41]

Thanks. I have read the article and what I find is that if you have diabetes, then sugar is bad. This means that if I do not have diabetes, ther eis no problem with sugar. Am I right to understand this way

[MinnadeParis in reply to vinadhun2]

sugar is not great for the body, even if you’re perfectly healthy. Have your neph checked your glucose levels. If your Dr says u can have sugar it should be in moderation. Also check in w a dietitian. According to your renal panel, They will be able to give you a daily gram allowance.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador in reply to vinadhun2]

The article does mention to watch your sugar levels. "In moderation, natural sugars can be good for you, but consuming too much table sugar or too many processed sugars or sweeteners can lead to health problems such as weight gain, diabetes and obesity."

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

No. Sugar eating for those with no diabetes is still not good for the body overall. Moderation in consumption of all foods is a good rule to live by. Are you asking for permission to eat sugar? Talk to your doctor. They can discuss your concerns. Blessings

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

There is eating some sugar and then there is eating Too much sugar. The thing is this, in small amounts, its fine,...even with diabetes. It is hard to get past it, especially if you like baked goods, pastries and cakes. But a cookie or two won't kill you. Life is short, and we should enjoy it. So, when it is birthday time, a piece of cake is in order no matter what. When you have something sugary, without diabetes, drink water with it to help dilute it and get it out. If you have diabetes, plan for it by limiting during the day other high glycemic foods. Or, and I do not like this, but my husband's endocrinologist recommended this, use more insulin. Sugar is passed out through the kidneys, which is why they warn you to be mindful of consuming it with CKD.

[ICE187]

The effects of added sugar intake — higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease — are all linked to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke.

[NWRobin]

One of the side effects of sugar is the fact sugar feeds cancer cells. I have fought my sugar addiction for years, but now that I have had a kidney removed, I have eliminated sugar. My life is worth more than the sugar.

[chicablue]

According to NKF sugar is not a problem for kidneys unless your blood sugar goes too high. I have been dealing with kidney damage for 28 years. I have given up most everything the renal diet asks you to do. I do not have diabetes and my blood sugar rarely tests over the limit. So, no I have not given up sugar. I enjoy it every morning in my coffee. I did cut down on cookies and sweets for dessert, but once a month I have a pc of cake. After all, sugar is plant based!

[Hidden in reply to chicablue]

I buy bags of the bite size Reeses peanut butter cups and will have 5 or 6 after lunch each day . I've been stable at stage 4 for the past few years and my glucose and A1C have been in range when I do labs every 3 months. Personally, I don't think a little sugar affects your kidneys. CKD patients are supposed to avoid chocolate but I don't know if it's the sugar content or the cocoa contents. When I was a member of a Facebook group for my Vasculitis, everyone on there preached about staying away from sweets because it causes or increases inflammation. I'm bad about stuff like that. Bassettmommer and my mom both said that you only live once so you might as well enjoy some of life's pleasures when you can.

[chicablue in reply to Hidden]

I agree! My mother practically lived on Reeses Peanut butter cups and Canadian Club Whiskey when she was older and she lived to be 95 almost 96. Sugar is plant based so it's got to be good, lol.

[Marvin8]

Those who say "I'm not really into sweets" have been blessed.

[Darlenia]

You're very lucky not to have diabetes! Sugar can be found in all sorts of fruits and veggies and eating those are okay for most of us. However, we often move beyond that and eat heavily processed foods which then makes our sugar intake soar. There's a great article from Harvard Health (see link) that states: "too much sugar leads to higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease — are these all linked to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke." While there isn't a Recommended Daily Allowance, "the American Heart Association suggests that women consume no more than 100 calories (about 6 teaspoons or 24 grams) and men no more than 150 calories (about 9 teaspoons or 36 grams) of added sugar per day. That is close to the amount in a 12-ounce can of soda." It's a good idea to discuss this with your own doctor since he knows your medical situation. I'm pretty sure s/he will agree with limiting sugar consumption in general. I suspect most of us are addicted to it!

health.harvard.edu/heart-he...

[kellyscats1 in reply to Darlenia]

So many myths about suger. Understand that every single carb you eat b reaks down to suger. Your rain needs this to function..every cell needs sugar to function. It is not te suger.. it is the amount. A diet of only sugar is deplete of essential nutrients.. all carbs including sugar contain 4 cal per gram,, protein 4 calories per gram... fat contains 9 calories per gram.. out bodies need all three..The problem with sweets is often the combination of fat and sugar..i.e. doughnuts..proven to be more addicting..

With ckd it is protein we limit....not sugar...and of course certain minerals... sugar is not on the limit list..sugar is already used and broken down by the time it gets to your kidneys..your brain will not function without sugar.. you will have seizures and can die .. as any diabetic what happens if their sugar gets to low..

Life is to be enjyed.. I am addicted to jelly beans and my egfr has been improved... more water .. no protein..or very little..pease give accurate information here..obviousle a diet of only candy bars wull leave you missing nutrition.. sugar had no nutritional value..it is for brain function and enjoyment

[Darlenia in reply to kellyscats1]

Sadly, the vast majority of kidney disease is caused by diabetes - we were told almost everyone at my hubby's dialysis clinic was there because of that terrible disease. So, if the reason for the problem is diabetes, it's incredibly important that sugars and carbs be restricted to save any remaining function as glucose narrows and stiffens the vessels responsible for filtering toxins, etc. All the other things are secondary. You mention lack of sugar and diabetes creating seizures. That problem occurs because glucose is impacted by the use of artificial aids (like insulin) and then giving oneself too much or using the wrong type and/or exercising too much or eating at the wrong times, etc. It's very difficult for a person without diabetes to become hypoglycemic due to lack of sugar. Following a western diet has made T2D nearly epidemic.

[kellyscats1 in reply to Darlenia]

Yes.... hypoglycemic episodes are caused by insulin and in some cases oral hypoglycemics. Yes most but not all people with CKD are diabetics but not all. I am not .. my dad was not and my son who is a type 1 diabetic thus far has ok kidneys. ..All carbs become sugars., that is how your body uses it. .. tryng to explain the asians who consume rice with each meal that the cup of rice will raise their blood sugar as much as a few jelly beans...so if you have CKD and not diabetis sugar is not the enemy...

I have no diabegtes annd my egfr remains stable with the jelly beans..not great on the gout tho...lol...There is no one size fits all... and having diabetes will effect your kidneys in the long run...but the reverse is not necessarily true.. CKD does more damage to the cardiovascular system

and yes yes yes,,,if you have diabetes type 1 or 2 you do need to restrict all carbs,,, as all carbs are sugar...

[Oglybogly in reply to kellyscats1]

Actually no one needs sugar. Sugars ate very inflammatory and cause nerve damage and pain. What the brain functions on is fat. The brain needs fat in order to function. Protein is very important to the body. Protein is not the enemy. I have actually improved my kidney function by eating animal based proteins. I was borderline with kidney disease and switched to eating meats and it has improved. What is bad for kidneys are sugars, processed foods and seed oils.

[kellyscats1 in reply to Oglybogly]

Please get informed. Your body needs sugar,, all carbs we eat turn into sugarll. all of them ,, bread rice and grapes... a person wo has hypoglycemia.. low sugar will have seizures and can die.. the brain does not use fat.. hormoses use fat,, protein repairs cells.. the brain needs suger ... if you give y ou give up sugar and your ody tries to use fat that is called ketoacidosis and can be fatal...all carbs become sugar to be used by the body.

I think you may be very confused about processed sugar and sugar... All carbs need to break down into sugar to beutilized...you will die without any carbs/sugar...if you are a diabetic too much sugar is harmful and you must watch sugar and hgh glucose levels cause dammage.. but if you are not a diabetic the insulin regulates your glucose llevvels.. and if a diabetic you must regulate it... too low will kill you quickly after you have seizures

[bumblebee_tuna in reply to kellyscats1]

Your body can make sugar in the liver (glycogenolysis), that's probably what he is referring to. Technically, it's not an essential nutrient.

[Oglybogly in reply to kellyscats1]

I must be dead. I do not or have not eaten sugars or carbs. No seizures at all. Sugars and carbs are not essential. Without them your body runs on ketones. It does not but you into ketoacidosis. If someone is type 1 diabetics, then they have to be careful. But type 2 diabetes or anyone without diabetes do not need any carbs or sugars . Yes your body will make the amount of glucose it needs. You do not need to eat it .

[vinadhun2]

Thanks all for the responses

[Hidden]

I’ve seen ads on different websites saying eating too much sweets is not the cause of diabetes. I asked my son who’s a doctor about that claim and here’s what he said. When you eat sweets, your pancreas has to make insulin to handle it. The more sweets you eat, the harder the pancreas has to work and eventually it wears out and doesn’t make enough insulin so you end up with diabetes.