Many complications can arise from diabetes, and kidney disease is one of them. The kidneys are necessary organs, designed to filter waste from your blood.

When you have diabetes, the kidneys are forced to filter too much blood, because of the high level of sugar in the system. The kidneys have to essentially work overtime -- all of the time. Just as machines wear out with extended use, the kidneys can wear out, too.

If you have diabetes, you and your doctor will both be on the lookout for symptoms of kidney disease. This is why it is important to schedule and keep regular doctor's appointments when you are diabetic. Kidney disease that is caught early can be better treated. You and your doctor should be on the lookout for fluid retention, a change in sleep patterns, loss of appetite, stomach problems, feeling weak, or having trouble concentrating.

If kidney disease develops, your doctor will most likely recommend a low-protein diet. Note, however, that a low-protein diet can bring on other problems, so never restrict yourself to a low-protein diet unless it is advised by your physician, so that your overall health can be closely monitored.

If your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant -- or both. You may need dialysis until a kidney can be found for you. Dialysis comes in two forms -- hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. With hemodialysis, blood is essentially removed from the body, cleaned, and returned to the body. This is done two or three days each week, and takes approximately three to five hours. Peritoneal dialysis is less common, and the lining of the abdomen is used to filter blood, instead of the kidneys.

The way to avoid kidney disease, and essentially kidney failure, is to keep your weight down, and your blood sugar level in check. Make sure that you follow the diet guidelines that your doctor has set for you, and that you are getting plenty of exercise. Also, be sure that you are drinking plenty of water.