14 March is World Kidney Day – a global campaign to raise awareness about kidney health. ‘Kidney Health for All – Advancing equitable access to care and optimal medication practice’is this year’s theme.

Kidney disease is a real concern for those with diabetes.

Diabetes NZ is amplifying the messages of World Kidney Day and of two organisations doing vital work in this area: the Kidney Society and Kidney Health NZ.

Our kidneys are amazing. Shaped like two very large beans, one on either side of the spine, these organs work hard to keep our bodies healthy and functioning.

For a start, they’re a filter, removing wastes and extra fluid from the body. They filter nearly 200 litres of blood every day to make a litre or two of urine.

They send signals to your body to regulate its blood pressure – telling it when pressure needs to be increased or decreased. They also release a hormone (erythropoietin) that tells your body to make those all-important red blood cells that carry oxygen around your body and give you energy.

As well as all that, your kidneys help balance the acid levels in your body, activate vitamin D, and balance minerals in your body that you need for healthy bones.

Caring for kidneys when we have diabetes

The most important things to remember are:

• Keeping your blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipids (fats) in a healthy range will reduce the risk of developing kidney problems. Levels of these in your blood should be tested at least annually.

• The screening test for early kidney disease is done on your urine and is called the microalbuminuria test. It tests for levels of albumin in your urine. If there’s a high amount, it means your kidneys are leaking albumin – a sign they’re beginning to be damaged. You should also have this test at least annually.

• If kidney problems are picked up early, there are treatments available that will delay their progress.

What to ask your GP or health care provider

Currently, a once-yearly diabetes review is free for all people in New Zealand with diabetes. This involves the tests that check your blood sugar levels, your blood pressure, and your blood lipids. It also includes the microalbuminuria urine test to check kidney function.

Ask for your GP to make sure you’re told when your review is due each year. One easy way to remember when to get it done is to have it scheduled for the month of your birthday.

If you’ve had diabetes for a very long time, you may need reviews more often than once a year. Ask your GP or health care provider about how often you should have them if you’re not sure.

For more information on diabetic kidney disease, see www.diabetes.org.nz/complication-kidney.

World Kidney Day is celebrated each year on the second Thursday of March. Events often take place throughout the whole month.

World Kidney Day www.worldkidneyday.org
Kidney Health NZ www.kidney.health.nz
Kidney Society www.kidneysociety.co.nz

First shared in the Autumn 2022 issue of Diabetes Wellness.