The destructive effects on major organs by diabetes are well known and documented. How diabetes causes kidney failure is mostly a matter of accumulated damage to the kidneys that occurs over time. If a diabetic is careful in the management of the disease and careful to monitor glucose levels, most of the damage can be mitigated. Testing can also be a major component to preventing kidney damage, but how? Diabetes causes kidney failure over a long period of time. The damage to the kidneys begins way before any symptoms are noticeable. Urine testing is the key to detecting this damage before it becomes too great.

Small amounts of protein begin to leak into the urine at the onset, or early stages of kidney damage. This protein is called albumin, and it can be detected in small amounts in the urine if you or your physician specifically request this test to …