When the kidneys are working properly, excess minerals are excreted from the body in the urine. Waste such as urea and creatinine must also be removed. Urea is made when the body breaks down protein, such as meat. Creatinine is a waste product of the muscles. Neither urea or creatinine are needed by the body and both are dangerous if allowed to build up in the blood.
Kidneys regulate building of bones, blood pressure and production of red blood cells.
Diabetes , a disorder of the pancreas, can lead to a serious deterioration of the kidneys. Diabetes requires close medical and preventative attention, specifically good control of blood sugar and blood pressure to prevent kidney failure. Kidney stones develop when chemicals in urine form crystals that stick together and grow in size. Most stones form in the kidney and some travel to the ureter or bladder. They are caused by drinking too little fluid, recurrent urinary tract infections, blockage of the urinary tract, limited activity for several weeks or more, intake of excess calcium, uric acid, certain medications or vitamin D and by certain metabolic diseases.