Testing Kidney Function for People with Diabetes
2022-23 Edition
You have the right to free interpreter services to make sure you get quality treatment and care.
Why is it important to test kidney function if you have diabetes?
Kidney damage is a common and serious complication of diabetes. High blood sugar levels can be harmful to your kidneys. Once the kidneys are damaged, they can no longer remove waste and extra fluids from the bloodstream. Your doctor should regularly order a urine test to see if you have any kidney problems as an important part of good diabetes care.
How should doctors test kidney function?
Doctors should regularly order a urine test. The urine test checks to see if there is any protein in the urine which can be an early sign of kidney damage.
Talk with your doctor and health plan to find out about what other services are available. Many health plans offer additional support and resources for patients with diabetes. These additional services may be educational materials (online and in print), classes or support groups, home blood pressure monitoring, or phone counseling.
What do the stars mean?
The scores show how well each medical group did at making sure patients with diabetes had their urine tested to watch for signs of kidney damage. The higher score means more patients got the right care at the right time.
The scores are based on information from at least 30 medical group patient records in 2020.