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I See Kidney Failure All The Time. Here's How It Warns You. (Stop This Habit)

Doctor Alex

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Kidney disease is one of the most dangerous conditions in modern medicine because it develops silently for years before people realise anything is wrong. I honestly see some degree of early kidney dysfunction or metabolic damage in the majority of medical patients I look after in A&E, and that isn’t an exaggeration. The worrying part is that the same habits quietly damaging the kidneys are usually damaging the heart, brain, blood vessels and metabolism at exactly the same time.

In this video, I explain the early warning signs of kidney dysfunction that people commonly overlook, why modern diets and constant snacking are putting enormous strain on the kidneys, and how insulin resistance, visceral fat and high blood sugar gradually damage the body from the inside out. We also cover the subtle symptoms worth paying attention to, the blood tests that matter, and the single thing that permanently changed the way I think about food and blood sugar control.

This is really a video about whole-body health told through the lens of one of the body’s most sensitive early warning systems.

What you’ll learn:
-Why kidney disease develops silently for years
-The early warning signs doctors look for
-What foamy urine can indicate
-How blood sugar damages the kidneys and blood vessels
-Why visceral fat and insulin resistance matter so much
-The connection between kidney disease, heart disease and dementia
-How modern eating patterns overload the body metabolically
-Why continuous glucose monitors can completely change how you eat
-The most important habits for protecting kidney function long term

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction
03:56 The Amazing Way Kidneys Work
07:09 The Early Warning Signs Worth Knowing
10:26 The Habit Driving Most of This
14:37 Why Blood Sugar and Belly Fat Quietly Wreck Your Kidneys
18:32 The Thing That Changed How I Eat
23:15 What to Actually Do

REFERENCES
A Randomized Trial of Intensive versus Standard Blood-Pressure Control
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26551...

Metabolic syndrome and kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21852...

The effect of intensive treatment of diabetes on the development and progression of long-term complications in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8366922/

Canagliflozin and Renal Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes and Nephropathy
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30990...

Dapagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32970...

Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36331...

Three 15-min bouts of moderate postmeal walking significantly improves 24-h glycemic control in older people at risk for impaired glucose tolerance
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23761...

Association of estimated glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in general population cohorts: a collaborative meta-analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20483...

Intensive blood-glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment and risk of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 33)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9742976/

#dralex #doctoralex #kidneyhealth #metabolichealth #longevity

20 Comments

@DrAlexWibberley Creator 3 months ago Pinned

Hello everyone and thank you for watching! I really hope you found this video useful. I read as many of your comments as possible and try to reply to as many as I can every day across the channel. The community on this channel is absolutely fantastic.... people sharing their stories, supporting each other, and learning together. It's amazing to see.

It means a lot to me that this has become a space where people are interested in the simple things that keep us healthy and prevent problems before they ever reach the hospital. If there’s a topic you’d like me to explain in a future video, please let me know in the comments.

If you’d like to support me, the best thing you can do is click the like button and subscribe. It really helps these videos reach more people who might benefit from them, and it allows me to keep making them!

My goal with these videos is simple: to help as many people as possible stay healthier and avoid ending up in the emergency department if we can.

And just in case there's any doubt... any AI-generated videos of me are completely fake and not affiliated with me in any way. I’m actively reporting these channels, and I’d encourage you to do the same if you see them.

Dr Alex 😊

@chris_dillon 2 months ago

This should be playing on a loop in the ER waiting room and doctor's offices.:thanksdoc:

@glmoore001 2 months ago

A really smart thing to do for your kidneys is to BACK WAY OFF the ibuprofen or any of the NSAIDS. If you are a regular user of ibuprofen, aspirin, Motrin, Aleve and Celebrex, be sure to have your doc measure your EFGr at your next blood screen. I was told max safe dose for Ibuprofen was 800 mgs twice a day, this is not safe on a regular basis. I was weight training and prone to injury using NSAIDS 3 or 4 days a week. When finally referred to a Nephrologist (kidney doc) my EFGr was at 35 (100 being great, 20 being dialysis). I removed the ibuprfen and my numbers went up to 60, still not great, but a long ways from dialysis.
Be careful of these over the counter drugs.

@karlstenator 3 months ago

The actual point is much simpler than the title and runtime suggest: Stop grazing on refined carbohydrates and ultra-processed food throughout the day. Eat fewer times per day, prioritise whole foods, exercise, sleep properly, and monitor basic health markers.

@forsetigodofjusticeexcelle7506 3 months ago

For men worried about foamy urine, it's worth looking up pictures and descriptions between "foamy" and "bubbly"
Bubbles in the urine are different, but the height you pee from, the speed it comes out traps air on the way down and in the splash and bubbles will form that can linger a while, but do behave differently and are a different thing.
If you're worried try peeing sitting down and actually analysing the bubbles after to see if it's actually "foam"

Those toilet fresheners you hang off the side also fill the water with some detergent chemical that can cause bubbles to form much easier.

@NotAmusedAtAll 3 months ago

When I was an undergrad in college, all I drank was cola - no water barely at all. My meals were from McDonald’s. I worked through college so I was always on the go - I swear, i don’t remember sleeping! I was about 20 lbs overweight with bad skin and horribly depressed - and The Smiths were my favorite band lol. One night I felt as though someone punched me in the back on the right side of my body. The pain was excruciating. I developed a raging fever. My mom, who was an ER nurse at the time just happened to phone me. She rushed me to the hospital. Sure enough, I had a kidney infection with a threat of sepsis. I was administered penicillin and given a catheter (not fun). My urine was brown. I believe if my mom had not phoned that night, I would not be here decades later recounting my story. Anyway, the doctor asked me what I had been drinking and eating. When I told him, he said, without mincing words, I was headed for dialysis if I didn’t clean up my diet.
I completely stopped drinking cola, stopped all the fast food. Within 1 month I lost excess weight, my skin cleared, I felt happier, and started dancing everyday to SKA.
I haven’t had a cola in decades.
The doctor here is absolutely speaking the truth about the kidneys. I would like to get a glucose monitor for a month. I think that’s money well spent .
Thank you for this video 🙏

@shamao8629 3 months ago

A doctor who is focused on health, not disease. Dr Alex is a rare gem.

@wehojm7320 3 months ago

I’ve been diagnosed with kidney disease and I’ve been battling high blood pressure for years. I’ve been on many medications to control it. It has finally come under control with the elimination of drinking alcohol, watching my diet, exercise, and trying to get a good night's sleep. I’ll be 70 this year and I think I pretty decent shape. Thank you for delineating the importance of a adapting a healthy lifestyle.

@yulu6697 3 months ago

I am a registered nurse in Australia. I found your videos excellent. Very few doctors spend time explaining details to patients. I learnt a lot from you and provided information to them in a way they could understand. Thank you so much

@dayniasykora7213 3 months ago

Watching this channel has literally changed my husband’s and my life. We’ve completely changed our diet. My husband reversed his Prediabetes. Our labs have drastically improved across the board. Don’t know what it is about Dr. Alex’s method of explaining and information delivery, but it’s been incredibly motivating for us. Many thanks!

@jc10907Sealy 2 months ago

Wearing a continuous glucose monitor CGM has transformed my understanding of what foods impact my system. I’ve changed my habits and reversed insulin resistance and now I’m off metformin with normal blood sugar. I saw adult onset type 2 diabetes ravage my mother, and kill her kidneys. I refuse to get sick with diabetes if I can do anything about it. Take action, be the architect of your own health. Listen to this wise physician preaching health.

@marram2852 3 months ago

Poor sleep can push your blood sugar up the next day and high blood sugar affects restful sleep. It's a catch 22!

@hwinny2 3 months ago

The early Warning signs starts after 7 minutes

@elwong2636 3 months ago

Just creating videos and casually saving lives like it's no big deal ❤
(A month ago I stopped eating 3-4 hours before bed and reduced my processed food intake by at least 50% after watching your videos. I dropped 2 kilos in l that time and felt a lot less lethargic.)

@sariannedavidsson6597 2 months ago (edited)

I am in Helsinki, Finland. I respect the advice I get from all doctors. BUT OH BOY OH BOY, HOW I wish there were more doctors like you Alex ! I simply adore this ' preventative' advice you give in all your videos. ( not that anyone cares, but I've dropped from 88,5 kg --> 72,5 kg in 10 months. Not with anyones advice or doctors orders. I am into fitness now ! Please if you hear this, stop with shit food. YES, all of it. Oh and just so little weight drop, you ask ? Well, I got all my skin looking good, not sagging ( I am 57 yrs old ) and I am strong as a horse, you can see my muscles now lol .

@markyexley9440 3 months ago

Thank you. I find your videos really supportive, whilst on a drive to improve my health.
The biggest thing is that you do not try and sell shit. Virtually every US ‘Doctor’ wants to sell you something.
Thanks again and thanks for your work with the NHS.

@asturos 2 months ago

Fighting big corporations for our health should be a prime directive for every doctor.

@CB-ln2eb 3 months ago

0:47 no kidding. My doctor gets mad if I speak about wanting to use my appointments about prevention. Then she shits on YT doctors that how can I trust someone I've never met. Gaslit!!!! Looking for a new doctor but very hard to find them where I live.

@Tally-vision 3 months ago

7:22 first sign

@jasonhochstrasser8657 3 months ago

I am an US anesthesiologist. I had my first high A1c in December of 6.8. I increased my efforts on weight loss, weight lifting, walking, and intermittent fasting. I bought 2 Dexcom Stelo glucose monitors. I used the first in March and gained many insights. DON'T break a fast with carbs. Overnight shifts are bad for glucose. Hard boiled eggs, and protein shakes with oatmeal and other fiber blended in are great. I used the 2nd one in May and was amazed at the progress I had made. My next A1c level should be around 5.1. Very useful. If you like data, get one.