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More than 40 per cent diabetics have kidney disease

DUBAI — More than 40 per cent of diabetes patients show signs of diabetes-related kidney disease that can lead to end-stage renal failure and cardiovascular disease, according to medical experts attending the Emirates Endocrine Congress in Dubai.

The comments come on the basis of a research carried out in 2,455 Al Ain-based Emirati citizens that looked at the prevalence of diabetes and its complications on a random sample.

Results show that 41 per cent of diagnosed diabetics suffered from microalbuminuria – protein in the urine caused by damage to the kidneys as a result of diabetes. As concerning, say local doctors, is the study’s finding that 18 per cent of the sample group who had undiagnosed diabetes were also found to have microalbuminuria. If left untreated, the condition may progress to end-stage kidney disease that often requires treatment with dialysis, and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease that can result in heart attack and stroke.

“The high proportion of people who already have signs of diabetes-related kidney disease is extremely worrying and is probably related to the fact that people fail to seek medical assistance for the symptoms of diabetes early enough. We have a high prevalence of diabetes in the UAE and we know that for every already-diagnosed person there is another person who is undiagnosed, suffering from complications of the disease,” said Dr Khaled Al Jaberi, Consultant and Chief of Endocrinology at Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi.

“Diabetes-related kidney disease is now the commonest reason people need dialysis – but this is avoidable with early diagnosis and treatment, which is why it is so important to raise awareness of microalbuminuria,” he added.

“The management of microalbuminuria is to treat aggressively with anti-hypertensive medications using different types of blood pressure drugs,” explained Dr Ghaida Kaddaha, Head of the Diabetes Unit at Rashid Hospital, Dubai.

Global best practice guidelines stipulate that all diabetes patients should be regularly screened for microalbuminuria as part of an annual health check. 
 asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com