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What to Know About Diabetes and Kidney Health

Reviewed by Claudia Levi, R.N.
October 24, 2024
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Living with diabetes means paying close attention to your blood sugar levels. It’s also important to care for your overall health. That’s because diabetes can sometimes cause complications, including those that can affect your kidneys.

Kidney-related complications can happen with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. These complications are called diabetic nephropathy or diabetic kidney disease. Up to 40% of people with diabetes will develop some degree of kidney disease.

Here’s what to know about the kidneys, kidney disease, and strategies to protect your kidney health with diabetes.

Why Healthy Kidneys Are Important

The kidneys are a pair of organs on either side of your lower belly. They filter your blood to remove waste and excess fluid from your body through your urine. The kidneys also control blood pressure, release certain hormones, and help your body use vitamin D from the sun to keep your bones strong.

How Diabetic Kidney Disease Develops

Over time, blood sugar (glucose) levels that are too high can damage the filters in your kidneys. When this happens, your kidneys can’t clean your blood properly, and waste can build up in your blood. The waste buildup can lead to kidney failure.

Kidney failure requires treatment to stay alive. Treatment can include dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Not everyone with diabetes will develop kidney damage or disease, and not everyone with kidney disease will have kidney failure. But it’s important to be aware of the risk.

Diabetic Kidney Disease Symptoms

You may not notice symptoms in the early stages of kidney damage. In later stages, symptoms may be vague, like feeling extra tired, low on energy, or unwell.

With more severe kidney disease, signs and symptoms are more noticeable and may include:

  • Reduced blood pressure control
  • Protein in the urine
  • Swelling in the feet, ankles, or hands
  • Puffiness around the eyes
  • Needing to pass urine more often than usual
  • Reduced need for insulin or diabetes medication
  • Confusion or difficulty concentrating
  • Shortness of breath
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Persistent itchiness and dry skin
  • Fatigue

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any signs or symptoms of kidney disease.

How Kidney Disease Is Diagnosed

Doctors can use blood tests and urine tests to learn how well your kidneys are working. These tests help diagnose diabetic kidney disease.

Yearly kidney function screenings with your doctor are important when you have diabetes. Detecting and treating kidney problems early may prevent or slow the disease’s progress and reduce further complications.

Speak to your doctor about when you should be screened for diabetic kidney disease.

How to Reduce the Risk of Kidney Disease

A healthy lifestyle and treating your diabetes can help keep your kidneys healthy. It’s important to treat high blood pressure, if you have it, too.

Monitor Your Health

The better you keep diabetes and blood pressure under control, the lower your chance of getting kidney disease.

Try to monitor your blood glucose and blood pressure as best you can. It can help to have home monitors and to log your readings, so you can review them later with your doctor. That way, you can help ensure you’re managing your diabetes and blood pressure well.

Be Careful with Medication

Certain medications, including over-the-counter pain medications like aspirin and ibuprofen, can be hard on the kidneys. Talk to your doctor about whether you should avoid taking medications like these and what medications are safer for you.

Don’t Smoke

Smoking increases the risk to your kidneys, too. If you smoke, take steps to quit the habit. Reach out to your doctor for extra help and loved ones for their support.

Limit or Avoid Alcohol

Drinking too much alcohol makes the kidneys work harder and can hurt their ability to filter the blood. Limit your alcohol intake to one serving per day—even less is better.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being at a healthy weight is good for your kidneys and overall health. Set yourself up for success by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

A healthy diabetes diet involves eating plenty of non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats (like nuts, avocado, and olive oil). It also includes drinking plenty of water. Limit ultra-processed foods and foods that are high in added sugars.

Most adults should strive to get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. That’s about 30 minutes per day most days. Talk to your doctor about whether you’re getting enough physical activity and how you can get more if you need it.

With the right care and attention, you can help protect your kidneys and your overall health with diabetes. If you have any concerns about your kidney health, talk to your healthcare provider as soon as possible. It’s important to catch any issues early.

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