Diabetes Management in Chronic Kidney Disease

Patient Guideline Summary

Publication Date: October 1, 2020

Last Updated: March 3, 2023

Objective

This patient summary means to discuss key recommendations from the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) for diabetes management in chronic kidney disease. It is limited to adults 18 years of age and older and should not be used as a reference for children.

Overview

Kidney disease is a common complication of long-term diabetes.

We will use the abbreviation CKD throughout this summary to refer to chronic kidney disease.

This patient summary focuses on comprehensive care of patients with diabetes and CKD, glycemic monitoring and targets, lifestyle interventions, antihyperglycemic therapies, and self-management and health systems approaches to the management of patients with diabetes and CKD.

Treatment

Your treatment team should include several specialists such as an endocrinologist, a nephrologist (for kidneys), a cardiologist, a nutritionist and yourself. Others may be added depending on your particular condition.
- Your participation, and hence your education in diabetes and kidney disease management, are critical to the best outcome.
Your doctors will treat your blood pressure and diabetes with several medications.
You will be encouraged to abstain from tobacco and to exercise regularly.
Your nutritionist/dietician will help you plan a careful menu to help control your diabetes and blood pressure.
The best blood test to monitor your blood sugar control is hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).
- The recommended target HbA1c is between 6.5% and 8%.

Abbreviations

CKD: Chronic Kidney Disease
HbA1C: Hemoglobin A1C
KDIGO: Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes

Source Citation

Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Diabetes Work Group. KDIGO 2020 Clinical Practice Guideline for Diabetes Management in Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney Int. 2020 Oct;98(4S):S1-S115. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2020.06.019. PMID: 32998798.

Disclaimer

The information in this patient summary should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.