What Dialysis Actually Does and Why You Don’t Want to End Up There
Most people think of dialysis as just “cleaning your blood.”
But the truth is, by the time you need dialysis, your life has already changed in ways most people don’t talk about.
💢 What Dialysis Actually Does
Dialysis is a machine-based backup plan for your kidneys. It:
Removes waste and toxins from your blood
Drains excess water from your body
Balances your minerals like potassium and sodium
But here's the problem:
Your kidneys work 24/7. Dialysis only works a few hours a week.
It is not a full replacement. It is a temporary extension of life.
📖 Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) – What is Dialysis?
🧠 Why Diabetes Leads to Dialysis
When your blood sugar stays high for too long, it forms toxic compounds called AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Products).
These compounds:
Damage tiny blood vessels in the kidneys
Cause inflammation and scarring
Lead to protein leaking into your urine
And slowly shut your kidneys down without pain or symptoms at first
This is how diabetes silently leads to kidney failure.
By the time labs show major changes, the damage is usually already advanced.
📖 Source: Younus H. Advanced glycation end products: a link between modern diet and health. Nutr Diabetes. 2022;12(1):1-10. PMC9521189
📖 Source: Singh VP et al. Advanced glycation end products and diabetic complications. Korean J Physiol Pharmacol. 2014;18(1):1–14. PMID: 24524085
💔 The Reality of Dialysis
Dialysis doesn’t just take your time. It takes your energy, freedom, and peace of mind.
People on dialysis often face:
Chronic exhaustion
Severe diet and fluid restrictions
Needle pain and blood pressure drops
Depression, anxiety, and feeling like a burden
And no, dialysis doesn’t cure kidney failure. It just buys time.
📖 Source: Kimmel PL. Psychosocial factors in dialysis patients. Kidney Int. 2001;59(4):1599-1613. PMID: 11260410
📖 Source: US Renal Data System 2023 Annual Report – ESRD Patient Outcomes
✅ What You Can Do Now
If you have diabetes, prediabetes, or high A1C:
Get your blood sugar under control not just lower, but stable
Eat protein and fiber at every meal to avoid glucose spikes
Stay hydrated
Add antioxidant-rich foods like greens, berries, herbs, and citrus
Walk after meals to help your body clear sugar before it becomes toxic
Because the goal is not just to live longer. It is to live free.
📖 Source: American Diabetes Association – Nutrition Therapy for Adults With Diabetes
Want help understanding your numbers and what to do next?
Grab The Busy Person’s Guide to Muscle & A1C or book a strategy session here.
Your kidneys are quiet, but they remember everything.
Let’s protect them before they need a machine to survive.
Yours In Health,
Dr. Uche
