If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, don’t wait for kidney disease to happen. Start protecting your kidneys from day one.

Your kidneys are incredible organs. Every single day, they filter nearly 180 litres of blood, removing waste and keeping your body in balance. But high blood sugar silently damages these tiny filters, little by little. The problem is, you won’t feel it. There is no pain, no warning signs, and by the time symptoms appear, significant damage may already have occurred.

So, what should you aim for?

What should you aim for?

First, keep your blood sugar under good control. For most people, an HbA1c of around 7% or less is the goal, although your doctor may set a different target depending on your age and other medical conditions.

Second, control your blood pressure. If you have diabetes, aim for a blood pressure of less than 130/80 mmHg, as this goes a long way in protecting your kidneys.

Third, get your kidneys checked every year. A simple blood test to measure kidney function and a urine test to detect protein leakage can identify kidney damage years before you develop any symptoms.

Today, we also have medicines that don’t just lower blood sugar—they actually protect the kidneys.

One of the most important groups is called SGLT2 inhibitors, such as dapagliflozin. These medicines have changed the way we treat diabetic kidney disease. They help slow kidney damage, reduce the risk of kidney failure, and also protect the heart. If you’re suitable for them, speak to your doctor about starting one.

Along with this, don’t smoke, stay physically active, maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, and avoid taking painkillers regularly unless advised by your doctor.

Medicines that protect the kidneys

Kidney disease doesn’t start when your creatinine becomes abnormal. It starts many years before that.

If you control your sugar, control your blood pressure, have a yearly kidney check-up, and take the right medicines at the right time, you can prevent or significantly delay kidney disease.

Lifestyle habits that protect your kidneys

The best treatment for kidney failure is making sure it never happens