When kidneys lose their filtering ability, dangerous levels of wastes may accumulate, and blood’s chemical makeup may get out of balance. Acute kidney failure, also called acute renal failure or acute kidney injury — develops rapidly, usually in less than a few days.
Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease. Diabetes is a chronic disease where the body cannot control sugar. A high sugar level in the blood damages the small filters (glomeruli) in the kidneys. In people with diabetes, kidneys do not filter as well. They are more likely to filter out tiny amounts of albumin into the urine instead of keeping it in the blood. Albumin is a type of protein needed by the body. Having protein in the urine is a sign of kidney damage. When diabetes is controlled, there is less chance of damage to the kidneys.
High blood pressure is the second most common cause of chronic kidney disease. High blood pressure makes the kidneys work harder which can damage the filters. Even a little rise in blood pressure is dangerous. People with high blood pressure can also have protein in the urine. Protein in the urine can mean the kidneys are damaged.
Certain medicines used too often for pain or fever can cause kidney damage. These medicines are called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen.