KIDNEY STONES AND DIABETES
By Michaella Thornton
Medically Reviewed by Elizabeth Gomez MSN, FNP-BC
Kidney stones, according to some patients, can rival the pain of childbirth. And for those individuals who have both given birth and had a kidney stone, some will tell you that the kidney stone was worse.
So, what causes kidney stones and how might having diabetes, specifically type 2 diabetes, put individuals at risk for developing these bothersome stones?
To start, kidney stones are, according to the Cleveland Clinic, “hard mass[es] of crystallized minerals that form in the kidneys or urinary tract.”
When one of the half a million people who present themselves annually at emergency rooms across the nation, those individuals are often exhibiting the tell tale signs of kidney stones, according to the Mayo Clinic:
· Severe pain in the side and back, below the ribs
· Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin
· Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
· Pain on urination
· Pink, red, or brown urine
· Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
· Nausea and vomiting
· Persistent need to urinate
· Fever and chills if an infection is present
· Urinating small amounts
It is important to note that if you or a loved one are experiencing one of the following signs or symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately:
· Pain so severe that you can’t sit still or find a comfortable position
· Pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting
· Pain accompanied by fever and chills
· Blood in your urine
· Difficulty passing urine
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