Diabetic Nephropathy (Kidney Disease)

Diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, is the most common cause of kidney disease. 

Nephropathy means your kidneys are not working well. The final stage of nephropathy is called kidney failure, end-stage renal disease, or ESRD. Both high blood glucose and high blood pressure damage the kidneys.  People with diabetes should be checked regularly for kidney disease. 

Your care team will monitor the waste products in your blood and urine, and test the urine to check for a protein called albumin. Normal urine should not contain any albumin. Even a small amount of albumin in urine is a sign that early kidney damage is present.