Diabetic Nephropathy Symptoms Diet Treatment
Diabetic nephropathy is one of long term complication of diabetes. Here is information about diabetes nephropathy Symptoms Pain Treatment Prevention medicine and diet
 Diabetic nephropathy is also called as Kimmelstiel-Wilson disease, Diabetic glomerulosclerosis, Diabetic kidney disease. Diabetic nephropathy is one of long term complications of diabetes in which patient may loose function of kidney. Kidneys become unable to filter protein and patient will have protein in urine.
What is pathophysiology, causes, incidence and risk factors for diabetic nephropathy:
In diabetic nephropathy walls of glomerulus (Kidney is made up of multiple units called nephrons and glomerulus is part of nephron) become thick. Function of glomerulus is to filter blood and forms urine. when its walls become thick, these are unable to filter small sized proteins called as albumin, and patient will have microalbuminuria. When this stage progresses more and more glomerulie are affected and parson will start loosing more protein in urin. Microalbuminuria may be seen for 5 to 10 years before other symptoms of kidney failue develop. With time kidney function deteriorates and diabetic nephropathy may lead to chronic renal failure and in the end we see end-stage kidney disease. People with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at risk of having diabetic nephropathy. However they are more prone to develop nephropathy if blood glucose levels are poorly controlled. During early stages of diabetic nephropathy there are usually no symptoms. Symptoms are seen late in the disease and are mainly due to kidney failure or excreting high amounts of protein in the urine.
Symptoms may include:
Fatigue
Foamy appearance
excessive frothing of the urine
May have hiccups
Generalized weekness
Generalized itching
Patient may have Headache
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite (Anorexia)
Swelling of the legs and feet (Edema)
Swelling around the eyes early in the morning
general body swelling may occur with late-stage disease
weight gain (from fluid overload)
Signs and tests
Urine Examination shows microalbumin. This test shows that at least there is some damage to kidney due to diabetic nephropathy, however this satge may be reversible.
Patient may have poor control of glucose levels and Blood glucose level will be high.
Serum Urea creatinine may also be increased in severe renal failure.
High blood pressure may also be present.
Some times biopsy of kidney is done to see extent of disease but it is not a routine medical test to diagnose diabetic nephropathy.
Diabetic nephropathy may also alter blood hemoglobin, hematocrit, total red blood cells, blood levels of calcium phosphorus and bicarbonate.
Treatment
The main goal of treatment of diabetic nephropathy is to prevent progression of disease and its complications.
Once microalbuminuria is confirmed then keep blood pressure under 130/80 or less by blood pressure medicine like angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE) Inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blokers, as controlling high blood pressure is most effective way of slowing down progress of kidney damage by diabetic nephropathy. Sometimes these two drugs are used in combination as-well to control high blood pressure.
Similarly, good glucose levels are closely monitored. If you have diabetic nephropathy in initial stages, these changes can be reversed by controlling your blood glucose in desired limits by following strict diet plan, exercise and antidiabetic drugs and insulin if prescribed by your doctor. As kidney damage progresses, less insulin will be needed to control glucose level as kidneys are unable to excrete excess insulin.
Iodinated contrast dyes during imaging tests like CT scan, Angiography etc, should be avoided as these dyes damage kidney.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should not be used as self medication as these may also enhance kidney damage. Always consult your doctor before using any pain killers.In diabetes you are more prone to develop Urinary track infections and other infections, antibiotics are used to control infections.
If end stage renal failure develops, then dialysis is recommended, and renal transplant may be needed at this stage.
Complications of diabetic nephropathy:
Anemia
Hyperkalemia
Severe hypertension
Hypoglycemia
Infections
Chronic kidney failure
Dialysis complications
End-stage kidney disease
All diabetics do not have diabetic nephropathy, risk is greater when blood glucose level is not controlled properly, blood pressure is high and you are a smoker or have hypercholestrolemia. Diabetic nephropathy patients have great risk of cardiovascular complications like heart attack and stroke. In short to prevent from this big problem, simply control your blood glucose level, do exercise, take proper diet, control high blood pressure and your cholesterol levels in desired limits.
Dr. Armughan Riaz M.B.B.S, Dip Card, author of this article, Diabetic Nephropathy Symptoms Treatment complications diet and Prevention. Learn more about Diabetes Symptoms Cure Treatment by visiting our site http://www.diabetessymptomscure.com
You have the permission to reproduce this article on your website provided all links in this article intact.
| 