Diabetes can affect the kidneys in a variety of ways but one of the most important complications is diabetic nephropathy. This eventually leads to lots of protein in the urine, high blood pressure and declining kidney function.
Diabetic nephropathy is an important cause of failure of kidney function.
It is not entirely understood why only a small proportion of people with diabetes develop diabetic nephropathy. However, there are a number of factors which appear to increase the risk of kidney disease. It is important to realise that these are only risk factors and it is possible to have no risk factors and still develop kidney problems. Conversely, there are some people with all the risk factors who do not develop kidney problems.