What Is the Leading Cause of Kidney Disease?

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease, though high blood pressure, or hypertension, is also a common cause. Kidney disease is a condition in which kidney functioning slowly decreases as time progresses.

Other causes of kidney disease might include autoimmune disorders, certain medications, or kidney stones. Signs of kidney problems, like fatigue or appetite loss, are not always present, so kidney testing is the only way to determine whether you have the condition. Here's what else you need to know.

Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney failure in the US. About one-third of all adults with diabetes also have kidney disease.

When a person has diabetes, their blood glucose—or blood sugar—is too high. Increased blood sugar can damage kidney blood vessels, preventing kidneys from functioning properly.

It's best to have your kidneys checked yearly, regardless of which type of diabetes you have. Testing is recommended for people with type 1 diabetes who have had it for over five years and people with type 2 diabetes in general.

Other Causes of Kidney Disease

The second leading cause of kidney failure is high blood pressure. Other possible causes may be:

• Autoimmune disorders (e.g., lupus)
• Certain medications like antibiotics, cancer medications, and pain medications
• Glomerulonephritis—inflammation of glomeruli, the kidney's filters
• Heavy metal poisoning (e.g., lead poisoning)
• Immunoglobin A (IgA) vasculitis—inflammation in and blood leakage of small blood vessels due to increased IgA antibodies
• Kidney infections
• Kidney obstructions like kidney stones or an enlarged prostate gland in people with prostates
• Polycystic kidney disease—a genetic disorder that causes cysts on your kidneys
• Rare genetic disorders
• Renal artery stenosis—narrowed arteries that carry blood from the heart to the kidneys

Risk Factors

Having diabetes, high blood pressure, or both puts a person at risk for developing kidney disease. In addition, heart disease and obesity are risk factors. Heart disease may reduce how much blood flows to the kidneys, while obesity increases your risk for diabetes and hypertension.

Having a family history of kidney disease can also raise the risk of having the disease. The likelihood increases when you have a close family member with the disease.

When To See a Healthcare Provider

You'll want to see a healthcare provider for testing if you've been diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure and if you have a family history of kidney disease. Testing is important because you may not initially show any signs of kidney disease.

A Quick Review

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease, with high blood pressure and other causes following. Other than diabetes and high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and a family history of kidney disease are risk factors for the condition.

If you're concerned about your kidney health, a healthcare provider is a great resource for the next steps. You'll want to see a provider for routine kidney disease testing, especially if you have any of the risk factors above.