Nephropathy, (Kidney Disease) is a chronic, progressive disease that develops in a third of diabetics 75 per cent of the kidneys may be damaged," before problems appear.

"Based on the research and information I have on January 06 the following makes sense to me," Harlan Jacobsen Copyright © 2006 Reprinted from Diabetes.Ca

Noticeable problems may not appear until 75 per cent of the kidneys are damaged," notes Donna Lillie, Vice President, Research and Professional Education for the Canadian Diabetes Association.

" The best way to prevent or delay the onset of diabetic kidney disease is to keep blood glucose levels at the target recommended by your doctor," says Lillie.

"People need to be aware of the risk factors of diabetic kidney disease and talk to their doctor about what they can do to reduce or delay the likelihood of developing it."

Risk factors for diabetic kidney disease include:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High levels of glucose in the blood
• High levels of fat in the blood (hyperlipidemia).

What diabetics can do to help prevent diabetic kidney disease:

1. Maintain good control of blood glucose levels
2. Maintain good control of blood pressure
3. Avoid smoking
4. Address any risk factors for heart disease and stroke
5. Get screened annually for signs of protein in the urine
6. Get physically active and lose weight if necessary (under the supervision of a physician)

Diabetic kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy) is a chronic, progressive disease that develops in one third of all people with diabetes. High glucose levels in the blood damages the small vessels in the kidneys, affecting the kidney's ability to filter wastes from the body.

This damage can progress to kidney failure, also called end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

At that time, the kidneys almost completely stop cleaning wastes out of the blood. Unless the disease is treated by dialysis or kidney transplantation, wastes build up in the blood to poisonous levels and can lead to illness and death.

More than two million Canadians have diabetes and this number is expected to increase dramatically as the population ages.

reprinted from diabetes.ca

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