| Kidney disease and diabetes | 2523.00000000000 | Kidney disease and diabetes | Kidney disease and diabetes | K | English | Endocrinology | Child (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Pancreas;Kidneys | Endocrine system;Renal system/Urinary system | Conditions and diseases | Adult (19+) | NA | | 2017-11-20T05:00:00Z | | | | | | 9.30000000000000 | 49.7000000000000 | 387.000000000000 | | Flat Content | Health A-Z | <p>Kidney disease may occur later in life as a result of diabetes. Learn about diabetic nephropathy, diagnosis and treatment.</p> | <p>The <a href="https://pie.med.utoronto.ca/htbw/module.html?module=kidney-child">kidneys</a> are the body’s filtering system. Blood flows through the blood vessels of the kidneys, where toxins and waste go from the blood to the urine. People with <a href="/Article?contentid=1717&language=English">diabetes</a> are at a higher risk for kidney disease as high blood glucose (sugar) levels and high blood pressure can damage the kidneys over time. This damage results in the kidneys being unable to properly filter the blood. Kidney damage due to diabetes is called diabetic nephropathy.</p> | | <h2>Key points</h2>
<ul><li>High blood pressure and high blood glucose (sugar) can cause damage to the kidneys, which results in them being unable to properly filter the blood.</li>
<li>Nephropathy is diagnosed through a urine test.</li>
<li>Excellent blood-sugar control, medication and good blood pressure control can help prevent kidney damage or slow progression.</li></ul> | <figure class="asset-c-80"><span class="asset-image-title">Location of the kidneys</span><img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/kidney_location_front_side_EN.png" alt="Side by side comparison of the location of the kidneys in the body from a front view versus side view" /> </figure>
<h2>What is diabetic nephropathy</h2><p>Not every person with diabetes will develop diabetic nephropathy. Diabetic nephropathy rarely occurs before puberty, if it happens at all. Poor
<a href="/Article?contentid=1724&language=English">blood (glucose) sugar control</a>, high blood pressure and smoking increase the risk of developing kidney damage.</p><p>Diabetic nephropathy develops slowly and quietly. No signs or symptoms will show until serious kidney damage has happened. Signs and symptoms may include:</p><ul><li>higher blood pressure than usual</li><li>puffy/swollen ankles due to water retention (edema)</li><li>too much protein in the urine (proteinuria).</li></ul><p>Diabetic nephropathy does not increase risk of kidney or bladder infection.</p>
<h2>Diagnosis of diabetes-related kidney damage</h2><p>At first, very small amounts of protein are present in the urine. A urine sample can be checked for protein. Your doctor may also want to collect urine over a 24-hour period. The protein that your
<a href="/Article?contentid=2511&language=English">diabetes team</a> looks for is called albumin. A very small amount of albumin in the urine is called microalbuminuria. If kidney disease worsens, the amount of albumin in the urine increases.</p><h2>Treatment of diabetes-related kidney damage </h2><p>The following can help prevent kidney damage or slow its progression significantly:</p><ul><li>Excellent
<a href="/Article?contentid=1724&language=English">blood sugar control</a> </li><li>Medication (ask your diabetes team for details)</li><li>Good blood pressure control</li></ul><p>It is very important to screen for kidney damage and treat when present. If diabetic nephropathy is left untreated, they may develop
<a href="/Article?contentid=936&language=English">kidney failure</a>. In this condition, the person needs dialysis or a kidney transplant.</p> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/kidney_location_front_side_EN.png | Kidney disease and diabetes | | False | | | | | | | | |
