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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
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People with diabetes are at a higher risk for kidney disease. This is because when there is too much sugar in the blood, the kidneys try to clean it out. Unfortunately, the sugar that the kidneys clean out begins to slowly kill the cells in the kidney.
To measure how well the kidneys are working, your healthcare provider should do a microalbuminuria test. This test looks for small quantities of protein called albumin in a urine sample. High levels of the protein albumin in the urine indicate the start of a condition called microalbuminuria. Usually, this test is for a person who has been diabetic for several years. It may show whether or not you are at risk for developing kidney disease.
Damage to the cells and blood vessels in the kidneys affects their ability to filter out waste. Waste in the blood will stay in the body instead of passing out of the body with urine. In some cases, if the damage goes on long enough, it can lead to kidney failure. When the kidneys fail, a person has to have his or her blood filtered through a machine every few days. This treatment is called dialysis. Another option is to get a kidney transplant.
Your microalbumin (a protein in the urine) should be less than 30 mg/24 hours. Your health care provider should check this at least once a year. Your doctor can also do a yearly blood test to measure your kidney function.
Ask your doctor about your kidney function and be sure you are tested at least once a year. All the things you do to care for diabetes help to protect your kidneys. These include your:
This article is a NetWellness exclusive.
Last Reviewed: Dec 07, 2012
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David C Aron, MD, MS Professor of Medicine School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University |
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Bette K Idemoto, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, CCRN Clinical Nurse Specialist Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing Case Western Reserve University |
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