I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss the importance of getting screened for kidney disease – the ninth leading cause of death in the U.S.
Fast Facts
Kidney disease is the 9th leading cause of death in the US.
As many as 90% of those with chronic kidney disease are unaware they have it.
Roughly one third of adults with diabetes have the disease.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), 37 million people in the U.S. are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Even more startling, the group says that as many as 90% of people who have CKD are not aware of their condition.
The reason for this is that mild and moderate CKD is frequently not associated with any symptoms. Symptoms usually become evident in severe CKD and may encompass nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, metallic taste and fatigue.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), 37 million people in the U.S. are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Even more startling, the group says that as many as 90% of people who have CKD are not aware of their condition.
CKD results in a gradual loss of kidney function. Your kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood, which are then removed in your urine. Advanced CKD can cause dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes to build up in your body; and those with high blood pressure, obesity and/or diabetes can be especially vulnerable.
In fact, the association between diabetes and kidney disease is a serious one: according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), roughly a third of adults with diabetes have CKD, and both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can cause kidney disease.
Screenings
Anyone with diabetes should therefore schedule a kidney disease screening at least twice a year; those without the disease can wait up to three years, but if you have a family history of CKD – even if you yourself have not developed it – your physician may recommend more frequent monitoring.
During a screening, a blood sample is taken to measure the level of creatinine (a waste product made by your muscles) in the blood, as well as the rate that blood is being filtered through the kidneys.
In addition, a 24-hour urine test reveals how much urine your kidneys produce, as well as how much protein leaks from the kidney into the urine in one day.
In general, your primary care physician will evaluate your kidney function via blood and urine tests at your annual physical. If you are not in the habit of making that annual visit, you should seriously reconsider; as is the case with many diseases, the sooner CKD is found, the more likely it is to be successfully treated. (An annual physical can of course lead to the discovery of a number of other conditions as well.)
Dr. Ronald R. Reichel of White Plains Hospital Physician Associates is board-certified in nephrology and internal medicine; he sees and treats patients for chronic kidney disease (CKD), acute kidney injury (AKI), electrolyte disorders, acid-base disorders, secondary hypertension, hyperparathyroidism, proteinuria, kidney transplants as well as kidney stones. To make an appointment, call 914-849-7060.