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.
1 Kidney disease is the 9th leading cause of death in the United States. 2  Every year, kidney disease kills more people than breast or prostate cancer.5.  In 2013, more than 47,000 Americans died from kidney disease.