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Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease

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Diabetes is a chronic disease affecting how the body turns food into energy. 1 Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as well as they should. Because of this, excess fluid and waste from blood remain in the body and may cause other health problems, such as heart disease and stroke.2 Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure.3

1. Diabetes Basics CDC. 5/28/24.
2. Chronic Kidney Disease Basics. CDC. 5/28/24.
3. Chronic Kidney Disease Overview. Healthy People 2020. 2/6/22.

Why It's Important

Poorly controlled or untreated diabetes can lead to leg or foot amputations, vision loss, and kidney damage. People with CKD are more likely to have heart disease and stroke. Healthy eating and physical activity can help prevent new cases and proper management of diabetes can reduce the risk of complications. Early diagnosis and treatment of CKD may help prevent or delay kidney failure and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).4,5

4. Diabetes. Healthy People 2030. 12/1/23.
5. Chronic Kidney Disease. Healthy People 2030. 12/1/23.

Who Is at Risk

Diabetes and CKD are disproportionately distributed across the population. There are significant disparities in prevalence, treatment, and mortality based on race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and weight status.

How It's Tracked

  • Screening and Prevalence: The New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (NJBRFS) tracks the prevalence of kidney disease, diagnosed diabetes, and pre-diabetes among adults as well as hemoglobin screening and dilated eye exam rates among adults with diabetes.
  • Inpatient Hospitalization and Emergency Department Visits: The NJ Hospital Discharge Data Collection System receives diagnosis information about all inpatient hospitalization and emergency department visits from NJ hospitals, and can be used to monitor related procedures, such as lower extremity amputations among persons with diabetes.
  • Mortality: Death certificates are a fundamental source of demographic, geographic, and cause-of-death information.

Other Data and Infomation Resources

New Jersey Department of Health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services