What is a microalbumin test?
A microalbumin test evaluates your urine for the presence of a protein called albumin. Albumin is normally found in the blood and is filtered by the kidneys. When the kidneys are working properly, very little albumin is present in the urine. However, when the kidneys are damaged by diabetes, more albumin may leak into the urine. This condition is called microalbuminuria. Microalbuminuria is an early sign of kidney damage, or nephropathy, a common and serious complication of diabetes. Its recommended that people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes be tested for microalbuminuria at the time they are diagnosed and every year thereafter; people with type 1 diabetes should be tested five years after diagnosis and every year thereafter. Microalbuminuria is usually managed by improving blood glucose control, reducing blood pressure and modifying the diet. If blood glucose levels remain high and early kidney damage is not treated, larger amounts of albumin may leak into the urine. This condition is
