People with diabetes need to have their kidneys checked every year.

People with diabetes can take responsibility for their health and many don’t realize the potential effects of kidney disease.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), approximately one-third of diabetes patients also have kidney disease.

Many people with diabetes may not be aware that they have chronic kidney disease (CKD). This is because symptoms can often go unnoticed. However, kidney disease can affect more than the kidneys. There are many causes of kidney disease. “triangle of risk”Type 2 diabetes, chronic renal disease, and cardiovascular disease. Research shows that people with both type2 diabetes and chronic renal disease are three times more likely than people without type 2 diabetes to have a stroke or heart attack.

Regular testing of the kidney function can identify potential problems before they become more serious. Early diagnosis and early treatment can protect those with diabetes and kidney disease, and lower their chances of suffering from cardiovascular events.

People with diabetes must have their kidneys checked annually. This includes blood tests to measure the estimated glomerular rate. However, a simple urine test known as the urine albumin/creatinine (UACR) can help identify CKD in its early stages and prevent it from becoming severe and requiring dialysis.

Talk to your doctor if you have type 2 diabetes or a loved one who has it.

Joey McGrath was a Know Diabetes By Heart ambassador for both the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Diabetes Association. He was taken to the hospital with disorientation symptoms, but was quickly diagnosed by a nephrologist as having end-stage renal disease that would require dialyses to filter his blood.

“It was very frustrating that it came out of the blue–I’ve been under doctor’s care for years. Where was everybody on this?”McGrath said.

He emphasizes that type 2 diabetics should have their kidneys checked at least once a year.

You can find out more about the connection between diabetes and chronic kidney disease. KnowDiabetesbyHeart.org.