Diabetic kidney disease, or diabetic nephropathy, is a complication of type 1 or type 2 diabetes caused by damage to the kidneys' delicate filtering system.
Your kidneys contain millions of tiny blood vessel clusters (glomeruli) that filter waste from your blood. Severe damage to these blood vessels can lead to diabetic nephropathy, which may lead to kidney failure or irreversible end-stage kidney disease, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.
• Albumin or protein in the urine
• High blood pressure
• Ankle and leg swelling, leg cramps
• Going to the bathroom more often at night
• High levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine
• Less need for insulin or antidiabetic medications
• Morning sickness, nausea, and vomiting
• Weakness, paleness, and anemia
• Itching
Include:
Laboratory tests:
• Blood Glucose
• Blood Pressure
Imaging studies
A renal ultrasound is typically obtained to observe for kidney
Include:
• Lifestyle Modification: in the prevention and management of diabetic nephropathy is tight glycemic control.
• Medical Options:
Control of blood pressure is the other keystone in prevention and treatment. Blood pressure control is critical in slowing the natural history of diabetic nephropathy in types 1 and 2 diabetics.
• Dietary Changes: Many diabetics with renal disease are salt-sensitive and minimizing salt intake can help in reaching blood pressure goals, with secondary benefits of decreased stroke risk, regression of left ventricular hypertrophy, and reduction in proteinuria.
• Surgical Options:
Surgical care in diabetic nephropathy typically entails complications that can arise from peripheral vascular disease or diabetic foot ulcers. Surgical issues also arise in the context of the creation of a native or artificial access in preparation for dialysis. Lastly, transplantation options may be pursued in the form of kidney or pancreas transplantation, or both, in select individuals.
Consult at Aadil Hospital for counseling and medical treatment.
