Friday, May 1, 2015

Risk Factors for Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetes is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the United States today. People with diabetes have a lot to juggle when it comes to their healthcare. While all of that may sound overwhelming, there is some good news; many of the steps you need to take to prevent one of those complications may actually help to prevent them all.

If you already have type 2 diabetes, or have been told you are “prediabetic” (meaning that your blood glucose is borderline high, or that you possess known factors that put you at greater risk for developing the disease), your kidneys are already overworked and their function should be tested annually. Early diagnosis of kidney disease is essential for preserving good health. Besides diabetes, other risk factors for kidney disease are:

  • uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • uncontrolled hyperglycemia (high blood glucose)
  • obesity
  • high cholesterol
  • family history of kidney disease
  • family history of heart disease
  • cigarette smoking
  • advanced age
  • race (African Americans, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans show a higher prevalence of kidney disease)                        

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