Looking after your kidneys

The role of the kidneys

Healthy kidneys act like a filter. Blood flows through them and is filtered and cleaned. Useful substances are left in the blood, and toxic or unnecessary waste is removed in the urine.

Kidneys also make sure that the amount and composition of body fluids are kept within a healthy range.

How do you know if you are developing kidney damage?

Over a number of years, diabetes and high blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels in the kidney.

The first sign that the kidneys are being damaged by diabetes is that they start leaking protein into the urine. Healthy kidneys hold on to the valuable protein, but once the kidneys are damaged some of this protein leaks out into the urine.

You and your doctor can detect this problem with a simple urine test. If you have protein in your urine, you can take steps to resolve this.

Detecting problems early

When only small amounts of protein are found in the urine (this is called microalbuminuria), the damage can be halted or reversed with tight blood sugar and blood pressure control. This is why it’s so important to have regular urine testing at clinic visits.

If the problem is not dealt with as soon as possible, the kidneys will begin to work less and less well.

If leaking protein is detected early, your doctor can prescribe suitable drug treatment to stop it progressing.

Long-term problems

If kidney damage goes untreated, the kidneys slowly stop working until they eventually fail altogether. When this happens, the work the kidneys would normally carry out has to be done by other means: either with a ‘dialysis’ machine, or with a kidney transplant.

If your kidneys become badly affected by your diabetes you may be referred to a renal unit – a department that specialises in treating kidney disease.

Keeping your kidneys healthy

Good control of your blood sugar and blood pressure are vital.

If you have high blood pressure, it is much harder for your kidneys to stay healthy. Your doctor may suggest medication to keep your blood pressure from getting too high.

Other things can also help: Eating a diet low in fat helps protect your kidneys. Smoking accelerates kidney damage, so it’s important to stop smoking.

Preventing kidney damage: A summary

  • Diabetes can affect the small blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to damage to kidney function
  • A sign of developing kidney damage is finding protein in the urine
  • Regular urine checks are very important to detect signs of kidney problems
  • Problems detected early can be treated with medication
  • If kidney damage becomes severe, the kidneys stop working well
  • Kidney failure is a serious condition that can only be treated by dialysis or a kidney transplant





  • There are things you can do to help protect your kidneys:
       - Control your blood sugar
       - Control your blood pressure
       - Eat a low fat diet
       - Do not smoke

 

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  INS/700/0107

Last updated: May 2007