Diabetic kidney disease (failure of kidney due to diabetes), like the epidemics of infectious diseases, have long dominated Public Health Agenda.

Over the past 25 years, the prevalence of diabetes has increased threefold to fivefold according to WHO,130 million individuals in China and India will have diabetes by 2025. United Nation General Assembly has declared diabetes to be an international public health issue, the second disease after HIV/AIDS to attain this status.

The first step that must be taken against diabetic Kidney disease, must encompass public health campaign that aim to prevent the development of Type 2 Diabetes.

Diabetes is now the major cause for end stage renal disease worldwide. Approximately 30% of predicted medical cost worldwide related to dialysis will be spent on Diabetic Nephropathy.

The rate of progression in disease (or detoriation in kidney function) in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes between the stages of nomo albuminuria, microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria and renal failure was 2-3% per year as per UKPDS Study. Prevalence of microalbuminuria increases with age, duration of diabetes and presence of hypertension.

The second strategy should be to prevent diabetic kidney disease by screening for albuminuria. Only a very few patients with diabetic kidney disease are aware of their condition. Community survey put patient awareness of their disease as low as 9.4% particularly among those with milder impairment.

Screening population is of little use unless follow up and effective treatment are undertaken. Use of ACEI and ATCB is standard therapy for this disease.

KIDNEY EARLY EVALUATION PROGRAM (KEEP) initiated by U.S. National kidney foundation is screening program for people with high risk kidney disease. Similar programs should be implemented in India to avoid India becoming the capital of CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE.

In case you are Diabetic please undergo a Renal Function Test.