Regular screening is vital for those living with diabetes or high blood pressure.
Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, UAE; 4th November 2025- As diabetes continues to rise across the UAE, RAK Hospital’s latest health awareness webinar, organized as part of the ongoing RAK Diabetes Challenge 2025 “Diabeat” educational series — turned the spotlight on one of its most serious yet often overlooked complications: kidney disease. The informative session, titled “Diabetes and Renal Health,” led by Dr. Ajinkya Patil, Specialist Nephrologist at RAK Hospital, shed light on how persistently high blood sugar silently damages the kidneys over time and offered clear guidance on prevention and early intervention.
With diabetes affecting around 16.3% of UAE’s population, Dr. Patil warned that the country faces an escalating burden of diabetic kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy). “Many people are unaware that diabetes can quietly damage their kidneys for years without showing symptoms,” he explained. “By the time signs appear, a large part of kidney function is already lost. The key message is simple—screen, screen, and screen! Early detection saves lives.”
The webinar walked participants through how diabetes leads to kidney damage, starting with small amounts of protein leakage in the urine (microalbuminuria) and potentially progressing to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis or transplant. Dr. Patil emphasized that this progression can be slowed or even halted if detected early.
He identified the main risk factors, including poor blood sugar control, hypertension, obesity, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and genetic predisposition. Regular screening, he said, is essential, especially for those living with diabetes or high blood pressure. Tests such as urine microalbumin, serum creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) can reveal early, reversible kidney damage.
“Diabetic nephropathy is not inevitable,” Dr. Patil reassured participants. “Simple steps such as maintaining optimal blood sugar and blood pressure, avoiding excessive salt and protein, quitting smoking, and staying active make a significant difference. Modern therapies like ACE inhibitors, ARBs, SGLT2 inhibitors, and Finerenone further help protect kidney function when used appropriately under medical supervision.”
The talk also highlighted the American Diabetes Association’s recommendations for annual kidney screening, starting from the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and five years after the onset of type 1 diabetes.
In closing, Dr. Patil urged the community to take ownership of their health through education, screening, and consistent medical follow-up. “Kidney disease caused by diabetes doesn’t happen overnight. But if we act early and act smart, we can prevent it from ever becoming life-threatening.”
RAK Hospital’s RAK Diabetes Challenge 2025 continues to run weekly webinars, each designed to educate and empower the community on pressing health issues, from diabetes and obesity to heart disease and beyond.
For more information, visit www.rakdiabeteschallenge.com
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