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. According to experts at NIH, the two most common causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure. If your family has a history of any kind of kidney problems, you may be at risk for kidney disease. 1  Diabetic Nephropathy. 2  High Blood Pressure. 3  Glomerular Diseases. 4  Inherited and Congenital Kidney Diseases.