What are the Diagnostic Basis for Diabetic Nephropathy

As its name indicates, diabetic nephropathy is kidney damages caused by diabetes and usually 5-8 years diabetes can cause kidney damages. Of cause this may not apply to all diabetes patients, but at least diabetes patients should pay more attention to protect their kidneys and take related tests regularly to check their kidney functions.

The following are the diagnostic basis for confirming diabetic nephropathy and it is necessary to bear them in mind for those that have more than 5 years history of diabetes.

1. The first is illness history of diabetes especially if the blood sugar is poorly controlled and has lasted for more than 5 years.

2. Intermittent or persistent clinical proteinuria (urinary protein qualitative test is positive). This is the key point for diagnosing diabetic nephropathy in clinic. Of cause other possible reasons of protein in urine must be first ruled out such as physiological factors, etc.

3. Renal function might be affected and patients can have renal insufficiency.

4. There might be lesions in the eyes and feet which are strong basis for confirming diabetic nephropathy.

5. The most reliable test for confirming diabetic nephropathy is renal biopsy. Renal biopsy is not a must test and only when there is indeed uncertainties in the diagnosis can renal biopsy be done because renal biopsy will definitely cause damage to the renal tissues.

Similar to hypertensive nephropathy, treatments for diabetic nephropathy include treatments for diabetes and kidney damages. To help control blood sugar and consolidate the effects of the treatments, patients should limit the intake of foods and the general diet principles are low-salt, low-sugar, low-fat, high-vitamin and high-faber. Have more vegetables and drink more water.

In addition, a positive and active mood and attitude is very important and proper physical exercises and a proper body weight are good for diabetic nephropathy patients.