Type 2 diabetes and CKD| Episode 5: Recognising CKD symptoms in type 2 diabetes

The symptoms of early chronic kidney disease, or CKD, are easy to miss¹. In fact, only one in three people with type 2 diabetes are aware that they have kidney disease². This means that diagnosing the disease can be challenging. In episode 5 of our series all about type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, we explore the symptoms of CKD to help you take better care of your kidney health.

What are the symptoms of CKD?

Mild-to-moderate kidney disease sometimes doesn’t have any symptoms at all³. If you are at risk or experience any of the following symptoms, it’s important you talk to a healthcare professional.

Symptoms include^4-6:

Blood in your urine
Swelling in your legs, hands and face
Shortness of breath
Feeling tired or nauseous without any apparent cause

If caught early, CKD can be managed with changes to lifestyle and medication⁷. However, if left untreated, it may require more intensive treatment³.

How is CKD diagnosed?

It is often diagnosed during an unrelated visit to your doctor, for example, during a check-up or screening related to your type 2 diabetes, and is normally detected via a blood or urine test⁶.

CKD can be hard to spot, but it’s important to discuss with a healthcare professional if you feel like something isn’t quite right. Remember to visit your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms, and make sure to attend your regular check-ups to maintain your kidney health.

Watch our next episode to find out more about comprehensive care for type 2 diabetes and CKD.

Learn more about type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease

Comprehensive care for type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD)

The systems and organs in our bodies are interconnected, which is why chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, CKD, cardiovascular disease and obesity may often coexist^1-4.

Type 2 diabetes

Episode 1: The connection between chronic diseases

Our bodies are incredibly complex, with multiple systems working together to keep us healthy. In episode 1 of our new series exploring how type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease are connected, we explore how different chronic diseases can affect each of these systems.

How your kidneys work

If you have type 2 diabetes, it’s important to take care of your kidneys. In episode 2 of our series all about the connection between type 2 diabetes and chronic kidneys disease, let’s learn about what your kidneys do, and why we need them to be functioning optimally.

Type 2 diabetes and the kidneys

Did you know that high blood sugar can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD)¹? Watch the episode below all about type 2 diabetes and CKD, where we dive into what this means for people with type 2 diabetes, and why monitoring your kidney health is especially important.

Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD)

Did you know that approximately 40% of people living with type 2 diabetes develop chronic kidney disease, or CKD¹? Let’s learn more about exactly how CKD develops and how you can look after your kidneys in the episode below.

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References

Good to Know: Diabetes and Kidney Disease. Clin Diabetes. 2022;40:370.
Koye DN, Magliano DJ, Nelson RG, et al. The Global Epidemiology of Diabetes and Kidney Disease. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis. 2018;25:121-132.
Evans M, Lewis RD, Morgan AR, et al. A Narrative Review of Chronic Kidney Disease in Clinical Practice: Current Challenges and Future Perspectives. Adv Ther. 2022;39:33-43.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. What is chronic kidney disease? Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/what-is-chronic-kidney-disease Last accessed: January 2025.
Kidney Research UK. Chronic Kidney Disease. Available at: https://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/conditions-symptoms/chronic-kidney-disease/ Last accessed: January 2025.
Cleveland Clinic. Chronic Kidney Disease. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15096-chronic-kidney-disease Last accessed: January 2025
Kushner P, Khunti K, Cebrian A, et al. Early Identification and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Narrative Review of the Crucial Role of Primary Care Practitioners. Adv Ther. 2024;41:3757-3770.