The principles are still broadly applicable today: 1  The condition should be an important health problem. 2  There should be a treatment for the condition. 3  Facilities for diagnosis and treatment should be available. 4  There should be a latent stage of the disease. 5  There should be a test or examination for the condition.
Diabetes Is the Leading Cause of Chronic Kidney Disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 17 million Americans have diabetes. Unfortunately, one-third does not realize they have the disease. Diabetes is the number one cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In 1999, almost 44% of patients who needed dialysis had diabetes as the underlying cause for their kidney disease. The numbers continue to rise today.
Causes of Kidney Disease. Most kidney diseases attack the nephrons, causing them to lose their filtering capacity. Damage to the nephrons may happen quickly, often as the result of injury or poisoning. But most kidney diseases destroy the nephrons slowly and silently. Only after years or even decades will the damage become apparent. Most kidney diseases attack both kidneys simultaneously. The two most common causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure.