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.
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 include4-6:
- 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.
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.
