Diabetes & Kidney Health
Answers to common questions about diabetes & kidney health.
Questions on this page
Can diabetes damage the kidneys?
Yes. Diabetes is one of the important causes of chronic kidney disease.
High blood glucose over time can damage the small blood vessels and filtering units of the kidneys.
What is diabetic kidney disease?
Diabetic kidney disease is kidney damage associated with diabetes. It may initially have no symptoms.
How do I know if diabetes is affecting my kidneys?
Two important tests are:
- Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)
- Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from a blood test
Both are important because kidney disease can develop before symptoms appear.
What is microalbuminuria?
The preferred term is moderately increased albuminuria.
It means that a small but abnormal amount of albumin is being lost through the urine.
Can diabetic kidney disease be reversed?
Early abnormalities may improve with appropriate treatment and good control of diabetes and blood pressure.
More advanced chronic kidney disease may not be completely reversible, but progression can often be slowed.
Does high blood pressure worsen diabetic kidney disease?
Yes. Diabetes and hypertension together can significantly increase kidney risk.
Can diabetes medicines protect the kidneys?
Some diabetes medications, particularly SGLT2 inhibitors in appropriate patients, have demonstrated kidney-protective effects. Medication choice should be individualized according to kidney function and other clinical factors.