Most people don’t realize how important kidneys are until they stop functioning properly. Those two little bean-shaped organs, located in the rear (dorsal) upper abdominal area, are an essential part of the urinary system that filters about 45 gallons of fluids per day. They’re responsible for the regulation of pH, extracellular fluid volume, osmolarity, the production of hormones, and the excretion of wastes and toxins. As you can see, their role in the system is vital; once they stop working, your body will fill up with extra fluids and waste products.1
At our walk in clinic in Wellington, we see patients every month who suffer from kidney infections. We not only help them get better, but also advise them about what to change or implement in their life in order to prevent this problem in the future. Today, we’re sharing our tips with you.
To act fast and seek medical help as soon as possible, it’s crucial to recognize the first symptoms of a kidney infection. Some of the common symptoms include, but are not limited to:
At our walk in clinic in Wellington, we treat patients who display various symptoms of kidney infections. Remember that every case is different, but never hesitate to contact your physician when you suspect you may have any kind of kidney disease.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to save yourself the pain of an infection, and they aren’t pricey at all. Below you will find four tips to keep your kidneys in good shape.
Hydration is the key to maintaining healthy kidneys. Not enough water in your system will lead to the production of urine which contains many more waste products. This will negatively affect kidney functioning and most likely cause kidney stones, i.e. hard masses of acid salts and minerals that cluster together when the urine isn’t properly diluted. Large stones cause severe pain while passing through the urinary system and may result in infection. At our walk in clinic in Wellington, we always recommend drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day. This amount may vary depending on your gender, age and lifestyle.2
Eating red meat in moderation (i.e. 1-2 times a week) will have certain health benefits. Although eating it provides your body with vitamin B12, which is good for your red blood cells and the nerve system; zinc, which is responsible for the immune system functioning properly; and protein, which contains amino acids and helps in building and repairing muscles, consuming a lot of it may harm your kidneys. Red meat, like any other animal protein, contains high levels of purine, which is metabolized as uric acid. Eating excessive amounts of red meat increases the levels of uric acid in the blood and can easily lead to the development of kidney stones. The good news for steak lovers is that one or two servings per week of red meat in your diet will not harm your kidneys. Quite the opposite, it will supply your body with nutrients that it needs.
Another thing that needs to be incorporated into your diet are probiotics, the so-called “good bacteria.” Sometimes, the kidneys may get overloaded and be incapable of sufficiently filtering the blood, causing a buildup of toxins which ultimately travel to the colon. Certain probiotic microorganisms located in the intestine can utilize these toxins as nutrients for growth. At our walk in clinic in Wellington, we encourage our patients to consume probiotics in different forms every day, whether it’s yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, pickles, or even dark chocolate (in moderation!).
If you notice the first symptoms of a kidney infection, you should see a doctor immediately. Most kidney infections are confirmed by using a urine sample to test for bacteria or blood in the urine. Certain cases may also require the collection of a blood sample or an ultrasound, an X-ray or CT scan. Once the diagnosis is made, you will receive appropriate treatment. Mild kidney infections are typically treated with antibiotics; more severe cases may require hospitalization. Don’t hesitate to swing by our walk in clinic in Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, or West Palm Beach. All three locations will provide you with personalized medical treatment, and help you recover in no time! We’re open seven days per week, after business hours. No appointment necessary -- just walk in and you will promptly receive the help that you deserve.
For more information about our services visit our website or contact us if you have any further questions.
1 https://mcb.berkeley.edu/courses/mcb135e/kidneys.html
2 https://www.naturalhydrationcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/NHC_hydration_and_kidney_health_FINAL.pdf
At our Urgent Care Centers in Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, and Palm Springs, we treat patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes on a regular basis. We help them manage any health issues they are struggling with related to these diseases. We happily take care of our patients seven days per week, no appointment necessary. Stop by whenever is convenient for you and let us provide you with the quality care that you need. Based on our extensive experience, we realize that people who suspect they may have diabetes or those who have just found out they have it are full of questions about it and how to manage it. In today’s article, our specialists from Urgent Care Center in Palm Beach Gardens will answer the questions most frequently asked by their patients.
There is a reason why we differentiate type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The treatment of each is very different. Type 1 diabetics are entirely dependent on insulin injections as their immune system attacks the insulin, producing beta cells and eventually leading to the inability of their body to produce insulin. In contrast, the biggest problem for patients suffering from type 2 diabetes isn’t their immune system attacking beta cells but the inability of their body to properly respond to insulin;as a result, they develop insulin resistance. At Urgent Care Center in Palm Beach County, we don’t recommend insulin injections to all patients with type 2 diabetes. Some of them are still producing certain amounts of insulin; for them, medication that would improve insulin release by the pancreas would be a more appropriate solution.
Many people with type 2 diabetes who decide to visit our Urgent Care Center in Palm Beach Gardens aren’t even aware they have it. It gradually progresses, and the symptoms appear after a while. The most common ones are: constant thirst, frequent urination, losing or gaining a lot of weight without a reason, blurred vision, slow healing of wounds, and unexplained fatigue. The higher the blood sugar is, the more severe the symptoms are.
Urgent Care Center in Palm Beach Gardens always encourages those people who are experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms to visit us and be tested. Even if you don’t show any symptoms, you should still get tested if you have a family history of diabetes, are over 45 years old, are under the age of 45 and either overweight or obese, have a history of heart disease, or have higher than normal blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed one of the following ways:2
Random blood sugar test – a blood sample is taken at a random time of the day; no matter what time you ate last, your results will be within the norm if your blood sugar level is lower than 200 mg/dL. Anything higher than that indicates diabetes;
Fasting blood sugar test – a blood sample is collected after an overnight fast; your blood sugar is within the norm when the results are less than 100 mg/dL; a fasting blood sugar that ranges from 100 to 125 mg/dL suggests prediabetes, whereas anything above 126 mg/dL is considered diabetes;
Oral glucose tolerance test – this one is a little bit similar to the fasting blood sugar test, as your blood is taken after an overnight fast and your blood sugar level is measured; you are then given a sugary liquid to drink, and the blood sugar level is tested a few more times over the next two hours;
Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test – this test reflects your average blood sugar level over the previous two to three months; more precisely, the A1C test is designed to measure the percentage of hemoglobin in your blood (i.e.,the protein in red blood cells that is coated with sugar). The higher the A1C level, the harder the blood sugar control is, hence the higher the risk of diabetes.
The table below will be useful for understanding your blood test results:1
| Diagnosis | Random blood sugar test
(mg/dL)* |
Fasting blood sugar test (mg/dL) | Oral glucose tolerance test (mg/dL) | A1C test (percent) |
| Normal | 99 or below | 139 or below | Below 5.7 | |
| Prediabetes | 100 to 125 | 140 to 199 | 5.7 to 6.4 | |
| Diabetes | 200 and above | 126 or above | 200 or above | 6.4 or above |
*Glucose values are in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
Always keep in mind that the more you know about the disease you have, the better you can manage it. The same rule applies to type 2 diabetes. Urgent Care Center in Palm Beach Gardens always recommends the following activities to their patients to improve their health and effectively manage their health condition.
The first thing you should consider is following a healthy and nutritious diet. Choose foods that have a lower glycemic index, such as vegetables, leafy greens, beans, lean meats, whole grains, and certain fruits like apples or berries, over highly processed or fast foods. If you already struggle with too many pounds, try to exercise more to lose the extra weight. If going to the gym is your nightmare, simply go for a brisk walk, ride a bicycle, or run a half a mile. Move that body however you can! If you have nothing against getting a gym membership, then try weightlifting as well as high-intensity training. Both of them will help you lose weight fast and keep your blood sugar levels steady. Trying yoga and Pilates will not only add some physical activity to your life, but also help you manage the stress that makes blood sugar levels harder to control. Stress relief will also help you sleep better at night, which plays a crucial role in managing diabetes. Although these are several changes you should consider making to manage diabetes, our medical team at the Urgent Care Center in Palm Beach Gardens will be happy to suggest even more things you can do to enjoy your life regardless of the presence of this disease.
In some cases, lifestyle changes are not enough and medication has to be prescribed. Patients with type 2 diabetes need it to help their bodies produce insulin and decrease insulin resistance. The amount of medicine and the time period in which our patients have to take it vary. Some need it only a short period of time, whereas others will always need medication to keep their blood sugar levels in check.
You may also try some complementary therapies, e.g., acupuncture, chiropractic therapy, biofeedback or massage, which may help you feel better, but they shouldn’t be the main treatment..
The good news is that it’s possible to prevent type 2 diabetes, and it doesn’t require you to take any complicated actions. As we said before, sometimes all it takes is changing your lifestyle by adopting a healthy and balanced diet, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol intake, and quitting smoking. Nevertheless, seeing a physician who will establish your chances of having diabetes in the future is also very important. If you know ahead of time that you are at risk of getting this health condition, it’s the highest time to start making those changes to your lifestyle!
If you are located in Palm Beach County and are looking for an experienced doctor who will help you manage your diabetes and keep your blood sugar levels in check, don’t hesitate to contact our Urgent Care Center in Palm Beach Gardens. Here we do our best to help you develop a healthy lifestyle that will make you feel better from day one. We accept patients on a walk-in basis. We also accepts patients at our two other locations in West Palm Beach and Palm Springs.
1https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351199
2https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/tests-diagnosis
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