What if I already have diabetes?

If you already have diabetes, you can lessen your chance of developing kidney disease by keeping your blood sugar under control. Some ways to do this are to:

• Check your blood sugar often.
• Ask your doctor about a blood test called “hemoglobin A1C.” This tests how your normal blood sugars have been over the past 2 or 3 months. It is a kind of “report card” for your blood sugar.
• Follow your doctor’s advice about insulin injections, medicines, diet and exercise.

You can also reduce your risk for kidney failure if you:

• Monitor your blood pressure. If your blood pressure is high, talk to your doctor about taking an ACE inhibitor.
• Have your doctor check your urine for protein.
• Ask your doctor to calculate your eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate). This number is based on the creatinine level in your blood, as well as your age, sex and race.