Diabetes and the Kidney
Diabetes mellitus is a disorder of sugar control. The sugar (glucose) you eat each day is controlled with insulin. People who have diabetes do not have insulin around to control the sugar they eat.
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National Diabetes Education Program
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
Some patients with diabetes develop side effects from their diabetes. These include neuropathy (numbness and tingling in the feet), heart disease and kidney disease.
Diabetes is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease in the United States.
Approximately 25-40% of chronic kidney patients have diabetes.
People who have chronic kidney disease caused by diabetes are said to have diabetic nephropathy.
Learn more about diabetic nephropathy and how you can prevent it from getting worse.
Poor sugar (glucose) control contributes to the onset and progression of diabetic nephropathy.
One of the first signs that a diabetic has kidney disease is the detection of protein in the urine. This can be detected by testing the urine for microalbumin.
There are many things people with diabetes can do to help slow down th e progression of diabetic nephropathy. These include:
Control your sugar (glucose) level.
Control your blood pressure
Discuss with your doctor if you can Take an ACE-inhibitor
Follow a special diet for diabetics
Do not smoke
Limit alcohol consumption
