Basic Information About Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the microvascular complications of diabetes and it is an important cause of death of diabetes patients. Generalized diabetic nephropathy include infectious lesion and vascular lesion and in most cases diabetic nephropathy usually refers to glomerulosclerosis.

Symptoms of Diabetic Nephropathy

The increase of glomerular filtration rate is the earliest renal functional change. Other symptoms are proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome, hypertension, renal insufficiency. Besides, there are more than 95% patients will have the complication of retinopathy and some patients may even go blind. There will also be serious cardiovascular diseases and neuropathy.

Causes of Diabetic Nephropathy

The pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy remains unclear. However it is certain that not every diabetes patient will develop diabetic nephropathy. There are some risk factors that will induce or speed up the progress of diabetes to diabetic nephropathy. They are renal hemodynamic abnormalities, the formation of end product of saccharification and genetic factors.

Tests and Exams for Diabetic Nephropathy

The main basis for diagnosing diabetic nephropathy is proteinuria. Diabetic nephropathy can be confirmed if the following factors can be ruled out including urinary tract infections, diabetic ketoacidosis, heart failure and glomerulonephritis.

Prognosis of Diabetic Nephropathy

Once there is clinical proteinuria (urine protein> 0.5g/24h), the glomerular functions will experience irreversible and progressive decline. It has been reported by American Joslin report that the average duration of proteinuria is 17 years and the average survival time is about 10 years after the proteinuria.

Treatments for Diabetic Nephropathy

At present there is no instant and effective cure for diabetic nephropathy. However so long as the blood sugar is well under control and the progress of renal dysfunction is slowed down, patients can still lead a normal life. In severe cases, renal replacement therapies (dialysis and kidney transplant) will be adopted.