Diabetes and Anemia: What is the Connection?

Impaired kidney function

Elevated glucose levels cause the kidneys to work in emergency mode as the body tries to get rid of excess sugar through the urine. If the kidneys are not functioning properly, they do not produce enough of the hormone erythropoietin, on which the synthesis of red blood cells depends. As a result, the level of red blood cells drops and anemia begins.

Nervous system malfunction

Diabetes leads to frequent spikes in blood sugar levels from normal to very high. This disrupts the supply of nutrients to the nerves and can cause neuropathy to develop. In diabetic neuropathy, the kidneys don't get the signal to synthesize erythropoietin.

Cardiac dysfunction

Diabetics are at increased risk of developing heart failure. Deterioration of heart function leads ===to i...