Condition Basics
What is diabetic kidney disease?
Diabetic kidney disease is damage to your kidneys caused by diabetes. This is sometimes called diabetic nephropathy. In severe cases it can lead to kidney failure. But not everyone with diabetes has kidney damage.
What causes it?
The kidneys have many tiny blood vessels that filter waste from your blood. High blood sugar from diabetes can destroy these blood vessels. Over time, the kidney isn't able to do its job as well. Later it may stop working completely. This is called kidney failure.
What are the symptoms?
There are no symptoms in the early stages. So it's important to have regular urine tests to find kidney damage early. As your kidneys are less able to do their job, you may have swelling in your body, often in your feet and legs. Other symptoms may include poor appetite, weight loss, and weakness.
How is it diagnosed?
Diabetic kidney disease is diagnosed using tests that check how well your kidneys are working. These include a test that checks for a protein called albumin in the urine. Another test checks how well your kidneys are filtering waste from your blood. This is called the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
How is diabetic kidney disease treated?
The main treatment for diabetic kidney disease is medicine to lower your blood pressure and prevent or slow kidney damage. Lifestyle changes can help. Keeping your blood sugar levels within your target range can also help slow kidney damage.
