Kimmelstiel-Wilson Disease

When a person with long-standing diabetes has kidney involvement, professionals may refer to Kimmelstiel-Wilson disease, a form of kidney damage (glomerulosclerosis) linked to diabetes that impairs the filtering capacity.

Why control matters: It is related to the damage that high glucose levels can cause over the years in the small vessels of the kidney.

How it may manifest: It is sometimes detected by the presence of protein in the urine or by changes in laboratory tests, before producing obvious symptoms.

Which specialists treat it? The nephrologist evaluates kidney function and the diabetologist or internist manages the diabetes, with support from the clinical laboratory scientist for the tests and from nursing staff for follow-up. If you live with diabetes, keeping up periodic check-ups with these professionals helps to protect kidney health.