Your kidneys (and how to protect them)


Andrea, The kidneys are the body’s filters, pumping blood and removing waste and impurities. But diabetes can lead to damage of the fine network of blood vessels in the kidneys, making them less efficient or causing them to fail entirely.

As many as 40% of people with diabetes eventually develop kidney disease. Kidney disease can eventually lead to kidney failure, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant. With generous support from people like you, we’re investigating ways to prevent and manage diabetes complications. And what we’re doing is working—thanks to lifesaving research and education efforts, kidney failure in people with diabetes has dropped by nearly a third over the past two decades! While this is good news, we cannot stop now. Far too many people with diabetes are still dying from kidney failure or are forced to rely on dialysis or transplants to stay alive. Can we count on you, Andrea? Your tax-deductible gift of any size will help save lives by expanding our critical research and education efforts. Want to know more about protecting your kidneys? Check out this guide to understanding and preventing kidney disease. Thank you again for all you do to help fight diabetes. None of this life-saving work would be possible without YOU.