Proteinuria - Diabetic Nephropathy

Increasing protein in urine is a notable feature in the developing course of Diabetic Nephropathy.

High blood glucose in a long course can overstrain renal filtering system. In a healthy individual, the amount of protein in urine is no more than 150mg/24h. Long-term or poor controlling of Diabetes can cause structural or composition changes on renal glomerular basilar membrane, thus leading to an excess amount of proteins in urine.

In initial disease course, diabetes causes mild pathological damage on kidney filters. The patients also have a slight elevation of albumin in urine, which is also known as microalbuminuria. In this instance, there is no evident symptom except an abnormal urine test result.

Obvious foams/bubbles in urine will be observed as protein leakage increases and glomerular cell damage worsens. The proteinuria often comes together with swelling in limbs, eyelids, face, ankles, etc. Heavy loss of urine protein (>3.5g/24h) will indicate advanced chronic kidney failure stage of the disease.

Management of proteinuria:

Your dietary protein intake should be restricted. Substitute plant proteins (such as beans) with animal proteins.

Control blood sugar strictly.

Repairing damaged glomerular cells is the most important part to get rid of proteinuria and block further kidney deterioration.