Everyone knows that kidney disease is a very serious condition, and a recent study that came out of the University of Washington shows that it can mean a much greater risk of having an early death for diabetics. Even though it is a very dangerous and potentially deadly disease, not enough patients are actually getting the tests they need to check for kidney disease. Since the disease doesn’t always have noticeable signs and symptoms until it is too late, this is a huge problem. 

One of the biggest segments of the population at risk for developing kidney disease is diabetics. Those who are suffering from this disease should always make sure that they are getting regular tests to check for kidney malfunction. Since diabetics already know that they have health issues, there is no good reason to avoid getting a test other than fear. Research in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology studied 15,000 adults with and without diabetes. Out of that number, less than 10% of people without diabetes had kidney disease, but more than 40% with diabetes also had kidney disease.

Some patients worry that they will have another disease to worry about and feel that if they ignore a potential problem it will go away. Unfortunately, things do not work out that way. Kidney disease will not get better. It will only get worse, and the diabetes can exacerbate the problem. It is a good idea to get the tests early and find out whether your kidneys are showing signs of problems.

Finding the problem early allows you to make some changes to your life so you can try to keep your kidney function at the current level. Those who simply ignore the problem may eventually have to go on dialysis or even lose their kidney if it stops functioning. Take steps early to get the help that you need. 

Our blog entries are for your information only and are not intended as medical advice. Because everyone is different, we recommend you work with your medical professional to determine what’s best for you.