Complications Linked To Prediabetes

Kidney Damage And Disease

Kidney damage and disease are some of the most frequent complications of type 2 diabetes, and kidney damage often begins in patients with prediabetes. In the early stages, the small blood vessels of the kidneys are damaged, and this means the kidneys cannot clean the blood as effectively as they should. Patients may start to retain both fluid and salt instead of excreting it, and this can cause swelling in the ankles and protein in the urine. Patients might also gain weight or develop high blood pressure (or both). 

One of the first indications of potential kidney disease caused by prediabetes or diabetes is an increased level of albumin in the urine. Patients at risk for kidney issues are advised to have their albumin levels checked annually, and doctors also use creatinine and blood urea nitrogen tests to monitor kidney function. As kidney disease progresses, patients may notice weakness, leg cramps, nausea, vomiting, and morning sickness. Some patients may develop anemia, and they may need lower doses of insulin and other medications used to treat diabetes.