Be kind to your kidneys
When your blood sugar is too high for too long, it taxes your kidneys, making them work extra hard. Over time, your kidneys will begin to leak protein, setting the stage for kidney disease and kidney failure. Diabetes is actually the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure in the United States, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The best way to prevent this is to get a yearly screening for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin, Malkoff-Cohen says. Keeping blood pressure under control also helps slow the development of kidney disease. And since high blood pressure also ups risk for heart disease, this is a win-win for your health and well-being.