type 2 diabetes can take a silent toll on your kidney, liver and heart
working with your health-care team to manage this progressive condition can help protect these organs
published dec 09, 2025
last updated dec 11, 2025
4 minute read
4 minute read
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this story is sponsored by
novo nordisk canada inc.
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a client.
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at 58, keith abraham has a lot to be grateful for: a wonderful wife, supportive family and friends, a rewarding career in the hospitality industry, and a home in the beautiful resort community of collingwood, ont. the town is an ideal setting for abraham, who is, “passionate about sports, especially tennis, golf and slow-pitch baseball,” he says.
but back in 2008, abraham’s life was very nearly cut short. the day after he completed some routine bloodwork, he received an alarming call from his doctor.
“they told me i had five percent kidney function, and that i needed to get to the closest er right away,” abraham recalls.
ultimately, abraham would remain in the hospital for a month under close monitoring as his kidney function gradually improved with treatment. “within a year, it had stabilized,” abraham says.
prior to that blood test, abraham had no clue his health was under threat. “as far as i was concerned, i was normal,” he says. “i mean, i was overweight, but i had no symptoms that would indicate i was unwell.”
a few years later, abraham was dealt another unwelcome diagnosis: type 2 diabetes (t2d). again, he’d had no symptoms, but the condition was detected early, thanks to the fact abraham and his family doctor had been working closely together to manage his chronic kidney disease (ckd).
at the time of his t2d diagnosis, however, abraham had no idea his two health conditions could be connected, or the toll t2d can take throughout the body. “all i knew about diabetes was too much sugar,” he says. “i had zero knowledge on the impact of diabetes on other organs.”
but abraham was very fortunate in one sense: he has a very knowledgeable family doctor, as well as an outstanding specialized care team. through them, and his own reading, abraham learned that t2d could affect his heart, liver, kidney and eye health.
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many people with t2d, however, are unaware of these risks, as well as the typical trajectory of the disease. “in my practice, what tends to come up is that people don’t understand why their blood glucose is increasing in spite of the same lifestyle, exercise habits and medications,” says dr. alexander abitbol, an endocrinologist at lmc diabetes endocrinology, in oakville and bayview, ont.
“it’s a progressive condition, which is why you often need more medications. it has nothing to do with patients’ motivation or efforts — it’s the biology of the disease.”
similarly, people with t2d often lack the knowledge that, “t2d also affects the major organs in our body, like the heart and kidneys,” notes dr. jill trinacty, who is also an endocrinologist at lmc in ottawa, ont. “it can also affect the eyes.”
dr. jill trinacty, an endocrinologist at lmc diabetes endocrinology in ottawa, ont.
for example, t2d doubles to quadruples the risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease. it’s also the leading cause of ckd which, when advanced, can severely impair quality of life, and for which dialysis is only a stopgap treatment. those living with t2d also have a significantly increased risk of developing fatty liver disease, which affects up to 70 per cent of individuals with diabetes.
for abraham, one of the most powerful tools in learning to manage t2d has been a team of health professionals with different areas of expertise. “when you go to the clinic, you see the nurse, the pharmacist, the dietitian, as well as a specialist physician,” he says. “you can contact them anytime with questions. between them and my family doctor, i’m so lucky i have that kind of support.”
in retrospect, abraham wishes he’d been aware of the importance of a healthy diet and physical activity long before being diagnosed with t2d. “i might not have been able to prevent some of this stuff, but i would be in a much healthier state, and maybe my kidney problem would be less serious,” he says. he also believes there should be a greater push to educate the public about how t2d, kidney disease and heart disease all interact.
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the good news is that it’s possible to reduce the likelihood of organ damage from t2d. “preventing complications involves managing glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol and many different aspects of lifestyle,” stresses dr. abitbol.
abraham has taken that message to heart. it’s been a slow process involving stops and starts, but he’s lost over 50 pounds and become much more physically active. “i’m in a good spot,” he says. “my numbers are stable, and as long as i maintain them, i shouldn’t — knock wood — have any issues for a long time to come.”
abraham’s advice to anyone who’s newly diagnosed? “you can only do so much with medication — the rest is up to you,” he says. “changing my lifestyle was extremely difficult, and it took a couple of years to make strides. i still struggle a bit, but it’s a lot easier.”
that said, expert help is also crucial. “make sure you have a good medical team and utilize their support and the services that are available to you,” he says.
this story was created by healthing content works, healthing.ca’s commercial content division, on behalf of novo nordisk canada inc.
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