NIH News
National Institute of Diabetes
and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Friday, November 14, 2003
Preventing Kidney Disease
The National Kidney Disease Education Program and the
American Diabetes Association Join the International
Diabetes Federation in Celebrating World Diabetes Day --
November 14, 2003
BETHESDA, MD -- The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and
the National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP)
applaud the International Diabetes Federation and the World
Health Organization as they draw attention to the
connection between diabetes and kidney disease through this
year's World Diabetes Day theme, "Diabetes Could Cost You
Your Kidneys: Act Now!"
Studies have clearly and dramatically shown that early
diagnosis and careful control of both blood glucose (sugar)
and blood pressure and taking an angiotensin converting
enzyme (ACE)-inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker
(ARB) are among the most important available measures to
delay or prevent kidney disease and kidney failure among
people who have diabetes. And yet, many people are still
unaware of the connection between the diseases and that
appropriate diabetes management and annual screening for
kidney disease are key to preventing kidney failure.
Kidney disease and diabetes are serious problems that spare
no country and no racial, ethnic or age group. More than
194 million people now live with diabetes worldwide, and by
2025 more than 333 million will have the disease if steps
are not taken to prevent it, according to the International
Diabetes Foundation. In the United States, 18.2 million
people have diabetes; 5.2 million don't know they have it.
More than 1 million more are diagnosed every year. Ten
million Americans have kidney disease, when kidney failure
and the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant may be
preventable, and nearly 486,000 people are already living
with kidney failure -- about 96,000 of them newly diagnosed
and treated. More than 130,000 have kidney failure due to
diabetes. Among the hardest hit are African Americans, who
account for more than 30 percent of the 250,000 people
treated for kidney failure due to diabetes and high blood
pressure.
In addition to the human toll, the cost of medical care and
lost productivity due to diabetes is an estimated $132
billion a year, double the cost of caring for people who
don't have the disease. Quality of life for patients and
their families could be improved and expenses could be
reduced if people had better access to preventive care,
were diagnosed earlier and had more intensive care for
diabetes and its complications.
People usually have no symptoms of kidney disease until
almost all kidney function is gone. The first sign is
often fluid buildup in the feet and ankles. ADA and NKDEP
encourage people who have diabetes to have an annual test
for kidney disease. Don't wait for symptoms. Anyone who
has high blood pressure or a family member with kidney
failure should talk to a doctor about being tested for
kidney disease.
The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading
voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research,
information, and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the
Association has offices in every region of the country and
provides services to hundreds of communities. For more
information, visit the Association's Web site at
www.diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383).
The National Kidney Disease Education Program is an
initiative of the National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases, part of the National
Institutes of Health under the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. NKDEP is dedicated to raising
awareness about the seriousness of kidney disease and steps
that can protect the kidneys and prevent kidney failure.
To learn more about the program,call 1-800-891-5390.
Contact:
Elisa Gladstone, NKDEP, (301) 435-8116
Diane Tuncer, ADA, (703) 299-5510