Diabetes: The 'Silent' Contributor to Chronic Kidney Disease

If you have diabetes, consult your physician for advice on chronic kidney disease.

 Chronic kidney disease (CKD) typically progresses silently with few symptoms. Many individuals do not realize they have CKD until it reaches an advanced stage, requiring dialysis (a blood-filtering treatment) or renal transplantation to survive.

If you have diabetes, check your kidneys regularly using simple blood and urine tests. Regular screening provides the best opportunity for early CKD detection. Early treatment is the most effective and can help prevent other health complications.

CKD is common in people with diabetes. About 1 in 3 adults with diabetes has CKD. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can cause kidney disease.

How diabetes causes kidney disease

Each kidney is comprised of millions of tiny filtering units called nephrons. Over time, high blood glucose levels from diabetes can damage the renal blood vessels as well as the nephrons, impairing their normal function. Many people with diabetes also have concurrent hypertension, which can further damage the kidneys.

CKD takes a long time to develop and often has no signs or symptoms in the early stages. You will not know you have CKD unless a doctor screens you for it.

How to prevent chronic kidney disease

You can maintain kidney health by managing your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. This is also vital for your heart and blood vessels; elevated blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke.

• Keep your blood glucose levels as close to the target range as possible.
• Have an A1C test performed at least twice a year, and more frequently if your medications are being adjusted or if you have other comorbidities.
• Check your blood pressure regularly and maintain it below 140/90 mmHg (or according to the target set by your physician).
• Achieve target cholesterol levels.
• Eat foods with low sodium content.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Physical activity.
• Take medication as prescribed.

Prediabetes and kidney disease

If you have prediabetes, preventing type 2 diabetes is a crucial step in preventing kidney disease. Studies have shown that overweight individuals have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes; however, disease progression can be prevented or delayed by reducing their body weight by 5% to 7%, or 5 to 6 kg for an 80 kg individual. You can achieve this by adopting a healthier diet and engaging in 150 minutes of physical activity per week.