Why can diabetes cause kidney disease?

Diabetes can impact blood circulation within the glomerulus, a part of the kidney’s blood-filtering system.

Here are six steps you can take to prevent diabetic nephropathy.

• Control blood glucose.
• Control blood pressure.
• Control blood cholesterol
• Don’t smoke
• Avoid pain medications that can hurt your kidneys (such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
• Test urine for kidney function and urine microalbumin/creatinine ratios yearly.

People with diabetes may also have the following risk factors:

• High blood pressure
• Poor glucose control
• A family history of kidney disease

Curious to learn more? 💡

• Explore UCSF's Diabetes Education Online resources on kidney disease
• Download the Diabetes and Kidney Disease infographic from the American Kidney Fund
• Download the National Kidney Foundations' Diabetes and Your Kidneys guide