Diabetes patients at greater risk for kidney disease

Did you know that 20 Canadians are newly diagnosed with diabetes every hour of every day? According to The Kidney Foundation of Canada, as many as 50 per cent of people with diabetes may show signs of kidney damage, prompting the need for effective dialogue between patients and their physicians about potential declining kidney function and the need to manage it at an early stage.

The new education campaign Your Kidney Health Matters is aimed at increasing understanding about the implications of kidney disease in type 2 diabetes management and helping individuals who are living with diabetes discuss kidney health with their doctor.

“Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease in Canada,” said Dr. Andrew W. Steele, FRCPC, Medical Director and Chief of Nephrology, Lakeridge Health Corporation and Lead Nephrologist Ontario Renal Network, Central East Local Health Integration Network. “It is essential for people with type 2 diabetes to talk to their doctor about having their kidneys screened at the time of diagnosis, when new medications are added, and then annually. There are many treatment options to lower blood sugar, usually starting with oral medications – some of these need to be dose adjusted for the level of kidney function and some newer agents can be introduced at all stages of kidney function.”