Having diabetes increases your risk of cardiovascular disease, eye disease and kidney disease. With regular checks you can reduce the risk of any of these complications.

As patients will be aware, part of the diabetes annual review involves a urinary albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR) test, traditionally conducted by bringing a urine sample to your appointment to be dip tested. The ACR test checks your kidney function by testing for particles of protein in your urine called albumin. If there is albumin in your urine, this means you are at increased risk of kidney disease and heart disease. If this is picked up at an early stage, you can be put on medication that will reduce your risk of any complications.

To help you perform this test, we are working with a company called Healthy.io, who provide a urine ACR kit and app that allows people to do the test at home. The test is really easy to do and only requires a smartphone and a kit that will be sent to your home.

People with diabetes across Dorset are being given the opportunity to complete their annual kidney health urine test from home, using a home test kit and a smartphone app. The ‘Minuteful kidney test’, delivered by Healthy.io, is quick and easy to complete in the comfort of your own home, and is used by your GP to detect kidney damage, using colorimetric analysis, computer vision, and AI.

If you are eligible for the service, you will be contacted by your GP via text message to let you know that Healthy.io will soon be in contact about the test.