Questions & Answers
1. If a person has diabetes, does that mean that he or she will eventually get chronic kidney disease?
While diabetes is one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease, there is no guarantee that having diabetes will lead to chronic kidney disease. The chance of developing chronic kidney disease depends on the severity of a person’s diabetes and the length of time he or she has been affected. If you have diabetes, eating right, exercising and taking your medications as prescribed by your doctor (particularly those to control sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol) can help prevent kidney disease.
2. Is there a cure for chronic kidney disease?
For the most part, there is no cure, but certain medications, such as ACE inhibitors that you can take if you have diabetes, can slow down the progression of kidney disease. If your kidneys do fail, the only treatments are dialysis and kidney transplantation.
3. Why is chronic kidney disease common among African Americans?
Kidney disease is more common among African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American people because these populations are more affected by diabetes and hypertension. African Americans are also more likely to have sickle cell anemia, a blood disorder, that can increase the chance of chronic kidney disease.
4. If there are no symptoms in the early stages of chronic kidney disease, how can a person determine if he or she is affected?
The most important way to monitor kidney function is to have routine blood and urine tests. This can occur at your annual medical visit, but should take place more frequently if you have diabetes or hypertension. People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes should have a special test, called a microalbumin test, performed at least once a year to monitor kidney function, since diabetics are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease. Some warning signs of chronic kidney disease include fatigue, chronic headaches, swelling of the legs or eyes, loss of appetite, upset stomachs and muscle cramps.
5. Is salt or sodium harmful to those with chronic kidney disease?
Yes. It is the job of the kidneys to get rid of excess fluid (mostly water) from your body. Salt makes your body hold more water. If your kidneys are already working hard to remove water from your body, eating salty food increases the amount of water in your body and makes it harder for your kidneys to work.
6. Can people with chronic kidney disease take painkillers, such as acetaminophen?
Some painkillers can make your chronic kidney disease worse. Several kinds of over-the-counter pain medicines, including aspirin and ibuprofen (brand names such as Motrin) should be avoided or used only after talking with your doctor. Other medicines that may be harmful are Alka Seltzer (which has a lot of salt in it), laxatives and antacids that contain magnesium and aluminum (like Mylanta), decongestant cold medicines (like Sudafed), and some ulcer medications (including Zantac and Tagamet). You should check with your doctor about taking any of these medications if you have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.
Elizabeth Donahue of the Disparities Solutions Center assisted in the preparation of these responses.
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Joseph R. Betancourt, M.D.
Director of the Disparities Solutions Center
Massachusetts General Hospital
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