A new analysis by Diabetes UK has revealed that a quarter of people with diabetes did not receive an annual check that is essential for detecting the early signs of kidney failure.
According to a new analysis of data from the National Diabetes Audit, 25% of people with diabetes in England did not have a urine check (known as a urinary albumin test) between 2010–11. A similar situation was reported in Wales, where 21.6% of people with diabetes did not have their urine tested during the same time period.
Although kidney failure can be a complication of diabetes, the presence of a protein named albumin in the urine can be an initial indicator of kidney disease. By identifying urinary albumin at an early stage, healthcare professionals can provide appropriate treatment to prevent the damage from becoming worse. In the absence of such checks, people may not be diagnosed with kidney disease until the condition has become a serious health issue.
Without the test, Diabetes UK has warned that up to 750 000 people are left at an increased risk of developing kidney failure. This is particularly alarming, as the rates of diabetes-related kidney failure have reached a record high, with 9753 people with diabetes in England and Wales requiring renal replacement therapy between 2010–11.
However, the urine check only comprises one of two annual checks that people with diabetes should receive to screen for kidney disease. The second check is a blood test to examine kidney function, and fortunately the analysis shows that the percentage of people who had their blood tested was much greater than the number of people who received the urine test.
Diabetes UK aims to raise awareness about the importance of this urine check in order to reduce the rates of kidney disease in people with diabetes. People forgetting to bring a urine sample to healthcare appointments is thought to be one of the reasons behind the low numbers of people receiving the test. Diabetes UK is also calling on the NHS to actively remind individuals to bring a urine sample to appointments.
Barbara Young, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said: “Healthcare professionals need to make sure people with diabetes understand the seriousness of kidney failure, increase awareness of why the urine sample is so important and then act quickly on any problems they identify. It is also important that people with diabetes make sure they take a urine sample with them to their appointment – doing so could literally save their life.”
