WHAT IT IS
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease. The kidneys quietly filter blood every day; high blood sugar over years can damage that filter, and the earliest sign is usually small amounts of protein leaking into the urine (proteinuria).
WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
Early kidney changes don't cause symptoms. By the time you feel something, damage has often progressed. The two screening tests that catch it early — a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio and an eGFR blood test — should be done at least once a year if you have diabetes or prediabetes.
WHY THIS MATTERS FOR ASIAN AMERICANS
South Asian and East Asian adults develop diabetic kidney disease earlier and faster than many other groups, often at lower body weights and lower A1C levels than U.S. averages assume. Asking specifically for kidney screening matters more in this population, even when the rest of your numbers look reasonable.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Ask for a urine albumin test and an eGFR blood test at your next visit
- Keep blood pressure under 130/80 — this protects the kidneys as much as it protects the heart
- Reduce salt and processed foods (soy sauce, pickled foods, instant noodles, packaged snacks)
- Stay hydrated through the day, but don't overdo it
WHAT TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR
- "Have I had a urine albumin test in the last year?"
- "What's my eGFR, and what's the trend over time?"
- "Are any of my diabetes medications kidney-protective?"