Beyond Blood Sugar: Low Awareness of Kidney Disease among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Dalmatia—Insights from the First Open Public Call

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Kidney disease (KD) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) associated with adverse outcomes of renal failure, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and awareness of the KD among the DM type 2 (T2DM) patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the University Hospital of Split between November and December of 2023 during an open call for DM patients. For each participant, blood and urine samples, along with relevant medical information, were collected, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Service Score (MDSS). Furthermore, blood pressure was measured, along with body composition and anthropometric parameters. Results: Of 252 T2DM patients with a median age of 67 years (IQR: 60–73), 130 (51.6%) were women. The median duration of T2DM was 10 years (IQR: 6–20). Despite the fact that 80.95% of total participants reported receiving dietary guidelines from any source, only 53.2% reported adhering to the suggested instructions, while according to the MDSS, only 7.2% adhered to the MeDi. The median body mass index was 27.6 kg/m2 (24.2–31), with 70.1% of participants overweight or obese. Only 6% of participants believed they had KD, but after blood and urine sample analysis, 31% were found to have KD. Conclusions: This study highlights a significant gap in awareness of KD, low adherence to MeDi, and a high prevalence of obesity among T2DM patients. Due to the increasing number of T2DM patients, it is crucial to improve healthy lifestyle education and make modifications within this group, as well as perform regular screening for KD and medical check-ups.