There's a lot you can do to take charge and prevent kidney problems. A recent study shows that controlling your blood glucose can prevent or delay the onset of kidney disease. Keeping your blood pressure under control is also important. The kidneys keep the right amount of water in the body and help filter out harmful wastes. These wastes then pass from the body in the urine.
Diabetes can cause kidney disease by damaging the parts of the kidneys that filter out wastes.
Albumin in the urine is an early sign of diabetic kidney disease. You should have your urine checked for albumin every year. Your health care provider can also do a yearly blood test to measure your kidney function. If the tests show albumin in the urine or if your kidney function isn't normal, you'll need to be checked more often. Remember to write down the dates and the results of these tests.