People with diabetes are three times more likely to develop kidney damage.

Key facts about diabetes and kidney damage

• Kidneys are important to your health and quality of life. They filter and get rid of waste products, help regulate blood pressure, help keep your bones strong and stimulate the production of red blood cells,which carry oxygen around the body
• People with diabetes are three times more likely to develop kidney damage
• 1 in 10  adults over 18 years have at least one sign of kidney damage
• Kidney damage increases the risk of end-stage kidney disease, heart disease and death
• End stage kidney disease due to diabetes has more than doubled in the last 10 years (130%  increase)
• The type 2 diabetes epidemic will lead to a further increase in the number of people with kidney failure.
• Chronic kidney disease can be prevented through early detection and optimal management
• Around 1 in 4 people with  chronic kidney disease have a HbA1c result that shows that they either have diabetes or are at risk of developing diabetes

Looking after your kidneys

Read more about diabetes and kidney damage.

Are you at risk?

1.    Assess your risk of type 2 diabetes. Call 13 RISK (13 7475) or take the online diabetes risk test
2.    Visit your GP to discuss your risk of type 2 diabetes
3.    If you are at risk of type 2 diabetes, join a Life! course or use the telephone health coaching service.

For more information about kidney disease please visit Kidney Health Australia.

References:
State of the Nation chronic kidney disease in Australia – May 2014