ROBBINSDALE, Minn. -- One in nine Americans have a problem associated most often with diabetes and there are more who may not even know it.
Twenty six million people have kidney disease and as many as 20 to 26 million more may be at risk.
There are no symptoms early on and if left undiagnosed, so getting screened is important. Those with it, may need dialysis or even a kidney transplant.
Amara Edin, a nurse at North Memorial Hospital, had no idea she had kidney disease. She said, "My diagnosis was by accident really."
Edin would not have known she had the disease if not for a doctor visit she had when trying to get pregnant. Protein showed up in her urine sample, an indicator of kidney disease, yet she was feeling healthy.
She said she had, "No sign and symptoms and I didn't feel anything."
Doctor John Gray with North Memorial Hospital and Kidney Specialists of Minnesota is Edin's doctor. He said, "Kidney disease can progress from normal function down to ten or 15 percent and people often won't have any symptoms at all."
Those most at-risk of kidney disease are African Americans followed by Hispanics, American Indians, Asians and Pacific Islanders. Gray said Caucasians have the lowest risk.
Gray says kidney disease is most often brought on by diabetes and there's a growing prevalence because diabetes can be caused by obesity.
Gray explains, "The high blood sugars cause changes in the tissues in different organs and eventually cause kidney failure."
He said high blood pressure is another risk factor but Edin had neither.
She said, "No diabetes. No high blood pressure."
Medication has helped stabilize her kidney function, minimizing her chances of needing dialysis or a kidney transplant in the future.
"So I'm hoping that what I have right now will continue until old age."
Dr. Gray said, "You can stop the progression and prevent it from going on to end stage kidney failure if you just know you have it."
North Memorial and the National Kidney Foundation are providing a free screening Wednesday, January 18 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the First Community Church in Northeast Minneapolis.
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