Are your heart and kidneys at risk

The hidden dangers of sugar can lead to more than you think. If you have diabetes, it's important to make an early diagnosis and treatment, as high blood sugar levels can lead to more serious conditions like Heart Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease^1,2,3.

The earlier you learn about the risks, the more you can do to prevent it.
Unwrap the facts by filling in the risk checker to find out your level of potential risk.

Start

Please fill in your information

Please insert your age:

Please select your gender:

Please select the year of diabetes diagnosis:

Please insert your weight:

Please insert your height:
Your BMI:
Being overweight is not only a risk factor for Cardiovascular Disease, it is also related to kidney damage in people with diabetes¹.

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The Risk Checker

Answer each question with a YES or NO

Are you a smoker?

Smoking is not only a risk factor for heart attack in people with diabetes, but it is also a risk factor for causing kidney damage in people with diabetes^2,3.

No Yes

Do you have high cholesterol? ?

Excess fats accumulated within your blood vessels can cause blockage and this may cause a HEART ATTACK⁴. Regardless of whether you have diabetes or not, it is important to control blood cholesterol levels to reduce the risk of developing a heart attack^5,6. Other than coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and diabetes are two main risk factors for HEART FAILURE⁸.

No Yes

Do you suffer from hypertension / high blood pressure? ?

High blood pressure is not only related to heart disease, it is also one of the main reasons why haemodialysis may be needed⁷. Hypertension is one of the leading causes of Chronic Kidney Disease.

No Yes

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The Risk Checker

Answer each question with a YES or NO

Do you have Chronic Kidney Disease? ?

Up to 40% (2 in 5) of patients with Type 2 Diabetes develop Chronic Kidney Disease¹¹.

No Yes

Does your family have a history of Chronic Kidney Disease?

If you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop kidney disease if you have a family history of kidney failure¹².

No Yes

Do you have a family history of Cardiovascular Disease?

Your risk of Cardiovascular Disease increases if you have a family history of Cardiovascular Disease¹³.

No Yes

BACK FINISH

Thank you

Speak to your Doctor on how to better protect your heart and kidneys

Download a copy of your results and the discussion guide below:

DOWNLOAD PDF

If you have answered Yes to 2 or more questions, speak to your Doctor about your diabetes management and risk.

This tool should not be used instead of a Doctor’s advice.

References

Kovesdy CP, Furth SL, Zoccali C, on behalf of the World Kidney Day Steering Committee. Obesity and kidney disease: hidden consequences of the epidemic. Braz J Medical & Biological Res 2017;50(5):e6075.
Ambrose JA, Barua RS. The pathophysiology of cigarette smoking and Cardiovascular Disease. J Am Coll Cardiol 2004;43(10):1731-1737.
Amod A, Bayat Z, Coetzee A, et al. SEMDSA 2017 Guidelines for the management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. JEMDSA 2017;22(1): S1-S196.
Mayo Clinic. High cholesterol. C2021. Accessed 20 July 2021. Available from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/symptoms-causes/syc-20350800?p=1
Amod A, Bayat Z, Coetzee A, et al. SEMDSA 2017 Guidelines for the management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. JEMDSA 2017;22(1): S1-S196.
Tonkin A, Byrnes A. Treatment of dyslipidemia. Prime Reports 2014;6:17.
Malliara M. The management of hypertension in hemodialysis and CAPD patients. Hippokratia 2007;4:171-174.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Heart failure. C2020. Accessed 20 July 2021. Available from https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/heart_failure.htm
American Kidney Fund. Protein in urine. C2021. Accessed 20 July 2021. Available from https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-disease/kidney-problems/protein-in-urine.html
KDIGO 2012 clinical practice guideline for the evaluation and management of Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney International Supplements 2013;3(1):1-150.
Alicic RZ, Rooney MT, Tuttle KR. Diabetic kidney disease: Challenges, progress, and possibilities. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2017;12:2032-2045.
NIH. Diabetic kidney disease. C2017. Accessed 20 July 2021. Available from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/diabetic-kidney-disease
Kolber MR, Scrimshaw C. Family history of Cardiovascular Disease. Canadian Family Physician 2014;60:1016.
Seedat YK, Rayner BL, Veriava Y. South African hypertension practice guideline 2014. Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa 2014; 25(6): 288-294.
National Kidney Foundation. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). C14/9/2020. Accessed 26/8/2021. Available from https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/gfr.