Diabetes

Over 20 million people in the United States have diabetes. Diabetes is the #1 cause of kidney failure. In fact, almost half (45%) of all kidney failure cases are caused by diabetes. Drugs and diet can help manage diabetes and prevent complications, but some people may still develop kidney disease, even with good medical care.

What is diabetes?
Who is at risk?
How will I know if I have diabetes?
What can I do to prevent diabetes?
What if I already have diabetes?
More Information

What is diabetes?

Diabetes happens when the body cannot make or use insulin correctly. Insulin is a hormone that turns the sugars in the foods we eat into energy. When a person has diabetes, too much sugar stays in the blood. This can damage different parts of the body, including the heart, blood vessels, eyes, nerves and kidneys. There are a few different types of diabetes:

Type 1: The body cannot make insulin. It is also called “juvenile diabetes”.
Type 2: The body cannot use the insulin that it makes, or the insulin that it makes does not work correctly.
Gestational: Diabetes during pregnancy.

Type 1 Diabetes

A small number of people diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. This is more common in children and young adults. In type 1 diabetes, the body stops making insulin. People who have type 1 diabetes need to take insulin shots or use an insulin pump. They can also help control their blood sugar with healthy eating and exercise. Type 1 diabetes is more likely to lead to kidney failure than type 2. This is why it is very important to check blood sugar often, eat healthy, exercise and take medicines correctly.

For more information about type 1 (juvenile) diabetes, visit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at http://www.jdf.org.

Type 2 Diabetes

The rest of this page is for type 2 (adult) diabetes.

The good news is that type 2 diabetes can often be prevented by healthy habits like a good diet and exercise. If someone already has diabetes, he or she can learn to control it and reduce the risk of complications.

Who is at risk?

Anyone can develop diabetes, but some people are more at risk than others. You are at greater risk for diabetes if you:

Are over 45 years old.
Are overweight.
Are African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander or American Indian.
Have a family history of diabetes.
Have high cholesterol.
Have had gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
Have given birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 lbs.
Exercise less than 3 times a week.

While you cannot change some of these factors, you can change others. For example, you cannot change your age, but you can exercise more often. These kinds of changes will help reduce your risk of developing diabetes.

How will I know if I have diabetes?

Diabetes often has no symptoms or warning signs. The only way to be sure is to have your blood tested for glucose (blood sugar). If symptoms do appear, they might include:

Feeling tired
Feeling irritable
Urinating more than normal
Being very thirsty
Being very hungry
Unexplained weight loss
Blurred vision

If you are experiencing some of these symptoms or think that you might be at risk for diabetes, be sure to talk to your doctor about getting tested.

What can I do to prevent diabetes?

Healthy eating and exercise habits are the best way to prevent diabetes. These are also great ways to help keep diabetes in control if you already have it.

To eat healthy, pick foods that are nutrient-rich. This means that they have many vitamins, but not much fat or sugar. When it comes to foods that are high in sugar, like ice cream or cookies, make sure that you are not overeating. You can still eat these foods, but eat them in moderation.

Exercising three or four times a week is another way to lower your risk of developing diabetes. For example, you might go for walks, run, bike, swim, join a local sports team or try a dance class. The key here is to start small and find something that you enjoy.

What if I already have diabetes?

If you already have diabetes, you can lessen your chance of developing kidney disease by keeping your blood sugar under control. Some ways to do this are to:

Check your blood sugar often.
Ask your doctor about a blood test called “hemoglobin A1C.” This tests how your normal blood sugars have been over the past 2 or 3 months. It is a kind of “report card” for your blood sugar.
Follow your doctor’s advice about insulin injections, medicines, diet and exercise.

You can also reduce your risk for kidney failure if you:

Monitor your blood pressure. If your blood pressure is high, talk to your doctor about taking an ACE inhibitor.
Have your doctor check your urine for protein.
Ask your doctor to calculate your eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate). This number is based on the creatinine level in your blood, as well as your age, sex and race.

Click here to order the brochure "Diabetes and the Kidneys" from the American Kidney Fund.