CKD Module 7
The American Nephrology Nurses' Association (ANNA) 21
Diabetes
• The leading cause of kidney disease and kidney
failure.
• Diabetics should be treated with ACE-I or ARB
medication even if hypertension is not present
because of the protective renal effect.
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of CKD. More than 50% of patients receiving
dialysis are diabetic. Many of these same patients have hypertension as well.
Because diabetes has some serious effects on the entire body systems, it is important
to slow the progression of diabetes, as well as monitor for and prevent or slow the
progression toward CKD. Because diabetics are at a very high risk for many
complications (including CKD, cardiac, and peripheral vascular disease), treatment
with renal sparing ACE-I and ARB drugs is recommended even if hypertension is
not present.