Damage to the kidney called "nephropathy" is a common long-term complication of diabetes. It can start as minor damage causing poor filtration, but can progress, especially if untreated, to chronic kidney failure (renal failure), requiring blood dialysis or kidney transplant. Kidney failure can ultimately cause death.
Kidney damage arises mainly from diabetic high blood sugars causing damage to the very small blood vessels (called microangiopathy or microvascular disease) in the kidney's filtration area. High blood pressure can also exacerbate any damage by adding to the stress on the blood vessels. ...more »
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Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure, accounting for more than 40 percent of new cases. Even when drugs and diet are able to control diabetes, the disease can lead to nephropathy and kidney failure. Most people with diabetes do not develop nephropathy that is severe enough to cause kidney failure. About 16 million people in the United States have diabetes, and about 100,000 people have kidney failure as a result of diabetes. (Source: excerpt from Kidney Disease of Diabetes: NIDDK)
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