One complication of diabetic nephropathy is damage to the kidneys. Microalbumin screening is a tool used to diagnose and detect diabetic nephropathy in its early stages. The screening tests the health of your kidneys by measuring very small levels of albumin in your urine, a protein that is important for tissue growth and healing, in your urine. Albumin is normally found in the blood and is filtered by the kidneys. However, when the kidneys are not working properly albumin can leak into the urine, a complication, called microalbuminuria.

A microalbumin screening can be performed on a sample of urine collected through any of the three methods below:

• Random spot collection measurement of the albumin- to-creatinine ratio
• 24-hour collection with creatinine
• Timed (example – 4 hour, overnight) collection

• The American Diabetes Association recommends, in Type 1 diabetes, a yearly microalbumin urine test beginning 5 years after diagnosis.
• The American Diabetes Association recommends a microalbumin urine test to be performed at the time of diagnosis, then annually, and during pregnancy for Type 2 diabetes.
• According to the American Diabetes Association, 20 to 40 percent of individuals with diabetes develop kidney disease.
• Preventive measures in managing microalbuminuria include improving blood sugar control, reducing blood pressure, and modifying the diet.

Will I live longer if I have this screening?

There is no scientific evidence to support that having a microalbumin screening will lengthen your life.

Does the microalbumin screening for diabetic nephropathy make my symptoms better?

A microalbumin screening will not make your symptoms better, but test results may encourage treatment to prevent damage to the kidneys.

How safe is this for me?

Collecting a urine sample for microalbumin screening is not a dangerous procedure.

The alternative to microalbumin screening is not practicing prevention or early detection of diabetic nephropathy.

Laboratory cost may vary depending on where the test is performed.

The cost may or may not be covered by your health benefits plan.

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