Diabetes is a chronic health condition that can lead to several other medical problems if not managed properly. Excessive amounts of glucose in the blood caused by improper amounts of insulin can lead to organ damage. Vision problems, poor circulation and kidney failure can all result from poor diabetes management. Your doctor will perform routine tests to monitor your overall health as you live with diabetes.
BUN
BUN is the abbreviation for "blood urea nitrogen" and is a blood test that gives an indication of your kidney function. Urea nitrogen is filtered through healthy kidneys and excreted in the urine. This blood test measures the amount of urea nitrogen in your bloodstream and can indicate how well your kidneys are filtering waste products. A high BUN level could indicate that your kidneys are not working well.
Relationship to Diabetes
Diabetics are at risk for nephropathy, or kidney disease. According to the American Diabetes Association, having very high blood sugar can make the kidneys filter too much blood. Years of this added stress on the kidneys can contribute to dysfunction and eventual failure. As a result, waste products, including urea nitrogen, will build up in the blood and raise BUN levels.
Dehydration
BUN levels might become elevated during dehydration, which occurs when your body does not have as much fluid as it needs to function properly. The Merck Manual says diabetes can lead to increased urination as the body attempts to decrease the amount of glucose in the blood. This increased urine output can easily lead to dehydration and might cause increased BUN levels.
Signs and Symptoms
Diabetics should closely monitor their health at all times and report any noticeable changes to their doctors. Dehydration can occur quickly and can become life threatening to children, the elderly and people with chronic conditions, such as diabetes. The most common symptom of dehydration is thirst; other symptoms include decreased urine output, dry mouth and lethargy. The early signs of kidney disease are often difficult to identify, making routine doctor visits essential.
