Download Kidney Health

Diabetes Education
Teaching Guide
Kidney Health
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Kidney Health
Pre-Test
Question #1
True or False? Diabetes is the number one cause of chronic
kidney failure in the United States.
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Kidney Health
Pre-Test
Answer #1
True or False? Diabetes is the number one cause of chronic
kidney failure in the United States.
True
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Kidney Health
Pre-Test
Question #2
Up to ___ of people with diabetes have high blood pressure.
A. 30%
B. 65%
C. 5%
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Kidney Health
Pre-Test
Answer #2
Up to ___ of people with diabetes have high blood pressure.
A. 30%
B. 65%
C. 5%
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Kidney Health
Pre-Test
Question #3
High blood pressure is also called:
A. Hypothyroidism
B. Hyperactivity
C. Hypertension
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Kidney Health
Pre-Test
Answer #3
High blood pressure is also called:
A. Hypothyroidism
B. Hyperactivity
C. Hypertension
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Kidney Health
Pre-Test
Question #4
Microalbumin is a:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Carbohydrate
Period table element
Protein
Kind of nail fungus
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Kidney Health
Pre-Test
Answer #4
Microalbumin is a:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Carbohydrate
Period table element
Protein
Kind of nail fungus
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Talking Points
Kidney Health
Diabetes is the number one cause of chronic kidney (or renal) failure in the U.S. and kidney

disease among people with diabetes has more than doubled in the past decade. According
to the National Kidney Foundation, approximately 30% of people with long-term diabetes
(about one in three) will develop kidney disease. The good news is that with early detection
and proper treatment, kidney disease can be slowed and, in some cases, reversed.
The kidneys are the waste management system of the body, removing excess fluid and
toxins from the blood stream and filtering them into the urine. The role they play is vital; if
kidney function is significantly reduced and a patient develops end-stage renal disease
(ESRD), the situation is life-threatening and a kidney transplant or regular dialysis
treatments are the only options.
One of the reasons why people with diabetes are at a higher risk for kidney disease (also
called nephropathy) is because of their increased incidence of high blood pressure. The
stress of long-term hypertension can cause damage to the blood vessels of the nephrons,
the functional filtering units of the kidney. Up to 65% of people with diabetes have high
blood pressure; controlling it is essential to preventing diabetic kidney disease.
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Talking Points
Kidney Health
Traditionally, kidney disease has been considered an irreversible and progressive
condition that will eventually lead to renal failure. But recent research shows that
early detection can actually save kidney function. A 2003 study in the New England
Journal of Medicine found that if the earliest sign of kidney disease –
microalbuminuria (or minute amounts of protein in the urine) – is detected, it could
be reversed if treated properly. Over half of type 1 patients with microalbuminuria in
the study recovered their kidney function with a treatment plan designed to achieve
good blood glucose control, normal blood pressure, and lower cholesterol levels.
However, early detection remains key to slowing the progression of diabetic kidney
disease. Familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms:
•Frequent urination
•Blood and/or protein in the urine
•Burning during urination
•Puffiness and swelling (edema) in the face, hands, and feet
•High blood pressure
•Skin itching
•Nausea and vomiting
•Weakness
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Talking Points
Kidney Health
The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with type 1 diabetes
should get a urine test for albumin (a protein) starting at puberty and/or five years
after diagnosis of the disease (more frequently if there are additional risk factor for
kidney disease). Other measures of kidney function include blood tests for
creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Creatinine is a metabolic byproduct of
creatine, the acid that supplies energy for muscle contractions, and BUN is an endproduct of protein metabolism formed in the liver. Both urea and creatinine are
filtered out of the bloodstream by the kidneys; high amounts of these substances in
the bloodstream indicate renal impairment.
You may have reduced kidney function if:
•Your microalbumin levels are >30mg in a 24-hour urine test.
•Your blood creatinine is >1.2 (women) or >1.4 (men). (Note: this is a different test
and measurement than urinary creatinine.)
•Your BUN levels are >8.
Your healthcare provider can help you interpret your lab test results.
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Kidney Health
Post Test
Question #1
Name three symptoms of diabetic kidney disease.
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Kidney Health
Post Test
Answer #1
Name three symptoms of diabetic kidney disease.
1.Frequent urination
2.Blood and/or protein in the urine
3.Burning during urination
4.Puffiness and swelling in the face, hands, and feet
5.High blood pressure
6.Skin itching
7.Nausea and vomiting
8.Weakness
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Insulin Pumping
Post Test
Question #2
True or False? Early detection and treatment of kidney
disease can save kidney function.
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Kidney Health
Post Test
Answer #2
True or False? Early detection and treatment of kidney
disease can save kidney function.
True
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Kidney Health
Post Test
Question #3
According to the American Diabetes Association,
microalbumin levels should be:
A. 30 mg
B. 55 mg
C. 120 mg
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Kidney Health
Post Test
Answer #3
According to the American Diabetes Association,
microalbumin levels should be:
A. 30 mg
B. 55 mg
C. 120 mg
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Kidney Health
Post Test
Question #4
Another test to measure kidney function is BUN, which
stands for:
A. Badly Undernourished Neurons
B. Blood Urea Nitrogen
C. Bleeding Until Noticed
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Kidney Health
Post Test
Answer #4
Another test to measure kidney function is BUN, which
stands for:
A. Badly Undernourished Neurons
B. Blood Urea Nitrogen
C. Bleeding Until Noticed
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Related Activities
Kidney Health
1. I
nvite a registered dietitian to visit the group and discuss diet tips for
people with diabetes and kidney disease. Discuss a “kidney-friendly”
menu that includes tips on avoiding high sodium content, phosphorus, and
potassium, but still includes some tasty meals.
2. Teach the group how to calculate their glomecular filtration rate, or GFR,
based on their serum creatinine lab values. Explain the significance of
their GFR as a measure of kidney function.
If you have other activities you’d like to share, email us at [email protected].
Additional Resources
Find more information about diabetes and kidney health on dLife.com
http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowContent/type1_information/preventing_complications/kidney.
html
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