CG10001-1
Microalbuminuria Screening in Diabetes
For use in (clinical areas):
General Practice and MK General Diabetes Clinic
For use by (staff groups):
All clinicians
For use for (patients):
All Adult diabetic patients
Document owner:
MK Diabetes NSF LIT
Status:
Approved
Purpose of the Guideline
The guideline aims to introduce microalbuminuria screening in a standardized way in Milton
Keynes, following the NICE guidelines for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.1,2
Contents
Definitions
Screening Protocol
Algorithm page 5
Treatment
Main body of document
Aims

To screen adult patients (>17 years old) with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes annually for
proteinuria and microalbuminuria.

To measure serum creatinine annually.

To treat all patients who are found to have raised levels of albumin in the urine according
to NICE guidelines.
Introduction
Microalbuminuria is a low level of albumin in the urine which is above normal levels, but below
what is normally detected by standard urine dipstick. Proteinuria relates to a larger level of protein
in the urine, and represents the progression of microalbuminuria. Proteinuria is usually detected
with a standard dipstick.
Patients with persistent microalbuminuria are at risk of progression to proteinuria, diabetic
nephropathy and end stage renal failure. Microalbuminuria also predicts cardiovascular morbidity
and mortality in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Source: MK Diabetes NSF LIT
Status: Approved
Issue date: November 2004
Valid until: November 2007
Page 1 of 7
Milton Keynes Hospital Trust
CG10001-1
Microalbuminuria Screening in Diabetes
Microalbuminuria is measured as a urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), in a first-voided sample
in the morning. There is a 40% day to day variability in albumin excretion, so NICE recommends
following up positive tests with two further tests, and only if 2 out of 3 are positive labelling the
patient as having microalbuminuria.
Definitions
Microalbuminuria
Albumin/creatinine ratio ≥ 2.5mg/mmol for men
≥ 3.5mg/mmol for women
Proteinuria
Albumin concentration ≥ 0.2g/l
Albumin/creatinine ratio ≥ 30mg/mmol
Protocol for microalbuminuria screening (see algorithm)

It is anticipated that microalbuminuria screening will be performed from general practice,
even for those patients who are attending the hospital diabetic clinic.

All adult patients with diabetes should be offered microalbuminuria screening annually with
the following exceptions:
-pregnant women
-type 1 diabetes for less than 5 years duration
-patients with pre-existing proteinuria
-terminally ill or very frail

First pass morning urine specimens should be collected in plain white bottles, and dipped
in the practice with a standard dipstick, before being sent to the laboratory. Mark the
request card as “other” and add “microalbuminuria”.

Serum creatinine should be measured annually.

Follow the attached algorithm, and use the Read codes as suggested below.
Source: MK Diabetes NSF LIT
Status: Approved
Issue date: November 2004
Valid until: November 2007
Page 2 of 7
Milton Keynes Hospital Trust
CG10001-1
Microalbuminuria Screening in Diabetes
Read codes
These codes are nGMS contract Quality and Outcomes compliant, and the codes used by the
local laboratory for pathology links.
4 byte
46TC Albumin creatinine ratio
46N3 Urine total protein (ie urine protein concentration)
C261 DM and persistent proteinuria.
C260 DM and persistent microalbuminuria
5 byte
46TC Albumin creatinine ratio
46N3 Urine total protein (ie urine protein concentration)
C10EK Type 1 DM and persistent proteinuria
C10FL Type 2 DM and persistent proteinuria
C10EL Type 1 DM and persistent microalbuminuria
C10FM Type 2 DM and persistent microalbuminuria
Exemption codes.
Patients coded for proteinuria will automatically be exempted from microalbuminuria screening by
the quality and outcomes software.
Any other patients who are exempted from microalbuminuria screening will need to have an
exemption code added. The following code is suggested (4 and 5 byte).
9h41 Exception report diab qual ind: pt uns
Source: MK Diabetes NSF LIT
Status: Approved
Issue date: November 2004
Valid until: November 2007
Page 3 of 7
Milton Keynes Hospital Trust
CG10001-1
Microalbuminuria Screening in Diabetes
Treatment of microalbuminuria and proteinuria in type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
For those patients with confirmed abnormal albumin excretion:

Suspect other renal disease if:
-particularly high blood pressure
-systemic ill health
-sudden proteinuria
-no progressive retinopathy
-significant haematuria

Discuss the significance of the findings with the patient.

Ensure tight blood glucose control. Target HbA1C <6.5%

Start ACE inhibitors (eg. ramipril) and titrate to full dose. (Caution in patients with
peripheral vascular disease, or renovascular disease. Caution if creatinine raised. In all
patients measure serum creatinine and electrolytes 1 week after initiating ACE inhibitor
therapy and after each increase in dose.)

If ACE inhibitors are not tolerated, use angiotensin 2 receptor antagonists (eg. losartan or
candesartan).

Maintain blood pressure below 130/80mmHg.

Advise those with kidney damage the advantages of not following a high-protein diet, such
as Atkins’ diet.

Monitor serum creatinine and refer to nephrologists if serum creatinine >150µmol/l.

Treat as high cardiovascular risk.

Commence aspirin 75mg daily, once systolic BP <150mmHg.

Recommend statin at standard dose. (eg. simvastatin 20mg daily).

If intolerant of statins consider fibrates and other lipid lowering drugs.
Rationale for main recommendations
Work was undertaken by the Milton Keynes Diabetes NSF LIT to compare types of microalbuminuria
screening services available their effectiveness and the costs per test.
The most cost effective method of organizing microalbuminuria screening is the central laboratory model.
Even if prices for GP practice based near-patient testing were lower, there would be a need for a laboratory
service to confirm positive results.
A hospital laboratory based microalbuminuria screening service will commence from October 2004.
References:
1. National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Type 1 diabetes: diagnosis and
management of type 1 diabetes in adults. July 2004 www.nice.org
2. National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Management of type 2 diabetes. Renal
disease-prevention and early management. Feb 2002. www.nice.org
Source: MK Diabetes NSF LIT
Status: Approved
Issue date: November 2004
Valid until: November 2007
Page 4 of 7
Milton Keynes Hospital Trust
CG10001-1
Microalbuminuria Screening in Diabetes
Development of the guideline
Changes compared to previous document
This is the first microalbuminuria screening guideline.
Statement of clinical evidence
The guideline is based on the NICE guidelines on type 1 and 2 diabetes as referenced.
Audit and Monitoring
The uptake of micoalbuminuria screening, and prescription of ACE inhibitors or A2 antagonists to
those with raised albumin excretion, will be monitored by data collected for the Quality and
Outcomes Framework, both at practice and PCT levels.
Contributors and peer review
Dr C. Paton, Consultant diabetologist. MKH
Dr S. Weatherhead, GPwSI diabetes.
Dr T. Gamlen, Consultant chemical pathology MKH.
Distribution list/dissemination method
All GPs
All doctors working in MK hospital diabetic clinic.
All practice nurses.
Diabetes specialist nurses.
Document configuration information
Author(s):
Dr. S. Weatherhead (GPwSI), Dr. C. Paton (Consultant diabetologist)
Other contributors:
MK Diabetes NSF LIT
Consultation:
Dr T. Gamlen (chemical pathology)
Approved by:
Diabetes LIT representing GPs, PNs, Diabetes Specialist Nurses and other AHP
groups who care for diabetic patients across the health care sectors.
Issue no:
1 (draft)
File name:
K:\Guidelines\Medicine\Microalbuminuria screening.doc
Supercedes:
none
Additional Information:
Joint Trusts Guidelines Steering Group
Date
Source: MK Diabetes NSF LIT
Status: Approved
Issue date: November 2004
Valid until: November 2007
Page 5 of 7
Milton Keynes Hospital Trust
CG10001-1
Microalbuminuria Screening in Diabetes
Microalbuminuria screen
Use first morning urine
Dip with standard dipstick
If normal or +ve for protein
If +ve for nitrites or blood
Send to lab for urine protein
concentration and albumin/creatinine
ratio (ACR)
Send to lab for M,C and S
Protein Concentration
≥ 0.2g/l
ABNORMAL
ACR ≥2.5mg/mmol for
men
ACR <2.5mg/mmol
for men
ACR ≥3.5mg/mmol for
women
ACR <3.5 mg/mmol
for women
ABNORMAL
NORMAL
Repeat 2 further times over next 3 months.
If infection,
treat and
screen again
If no infection,
consider other
causes of
haematuria
NO
2 out of 3 tests abnormal?
YES
Protein conc abnormal
label as
ACR abnormal, label
as
DM and persistent
proteinuria
DM and persistent
microalbuminuria
Treat as high risk
Source: MK Diabetes NSF LIT
Status: Approved
Repeat microalbuminuria
screen at 1 year
Guideline for microalbuminuria screening
Issue date: November 2004
Valid until: November 2007
Page 7 of 7