Causes & What We Know/January 8, 2026/2 min read

A New Urine Test May Help Predict Kidney Disease in Type 1 Diabetes

Researchers found that measuring a protein called cubilin in urine could help identify which people with Type 1 diabetes are at risk for diabetic nephropathy, a serious kidney complication.

PubMed indexed literature

Evidence label explains the kind of source behind this article (for example peer-reviewed literature vs community video). It is not medical advice.

causesautoimmunitygeneticsrisk

Key takeaways

Urinary cubilin, a protein found in urine, showed promise in predicting which people would develop progressive kidney disease over 20+ years of follow-up
The test was studied in one of the largest long-term diabetes cohort studies and correctly identified risk about 81% of the time
Early detection of kidney disease risk could allow for earlier intervention, since current screening methods like microalbuminuria don't catch all cases
This is a pilot study, meaning more research is needed before the test could become part of standard diabetes care

Why Finding Earlier Signs of Kidney Disease Matters

Diabetic nephropathy—kidney disease caused by diabetes—is one of the most serious long-term complications of Type 1 diabetes. It can eventually lead to kidney failure and the need for dialysis or transplant. The problem is that by the time doctors detect kidney problems using current tests like microalbuminuria (excess protein in urine), damage may already be underway.

Researchers have been searching for biomarkers—measurable signs in the body—that could warn of kidney disease earlier, when intervention might be more effective. A new pilot study suggests that measuring a protein called cubilin in urine might be one such biomarker.

What the Study Found

Researchers measured urinary cubilin levels in urine samples from participants in the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications study, one of the largest long-term studies of Type 1 diabetes. They tracked what happened to participants over more than 20 years, dividing them into three groups: those who stayed healthy, those who developed high levels of protein in urine (macroalbuminuria), and those whose kidney function declined by 40% or more.

The test accurately predicted which people would develop progressive kidney disease, with an 81% success rate. The difference in cubilin levels was statistically significant when comparing people with severe kidney function decline to the other two groups.

What This Means—and What We Don't Yet Know

If confirmed in larger studies, a urinary cubilin test could someday help doctors identify people at highest risk for diabetic kidney disease before major damage occurs. This earlier warning could open the door to earlier treatment decisions.

It's important to note that this is a pilot study, which is an early-stage investigation. The findings are promising, but much more research is needed. Scientists will need to study cubilin in larger groups of people, determine the best way to measure it in clinical practice, and understand how useful it would be compared to other tests doctors already use. Until then, anyone with Type 1 diabetes should continue following their doctor's recommended screening for kidney disease.

Evidence label

Source: Journal of diabetes research. Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

More evidence-labeled coverage across the Type1Cure library.