Know About Kidney Disease (Nephropathy) of Diabetes

Nephropathy due to diabetes is a kidney disease induced as a result of capillary dysfunction in kidney glomeruli. This diabetic condition discovered by Wilson and Kimmelsteil is also known by name Kimmelsteil-Wilson syndrome. If not diagnosed in earlier stages, disease may later induce the need for dialysis and kidney transplantation. Diabetic nephropathy is more frequently seen among diabetic men than in women. In some diabetic patients, disease may even result in chronic kidney failure and end-stage kidney disease. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients are equally affected by this kidney trouble.

Do you know how detection is done for nephropathy? Detection of kidney diseases due to diabetes is done mainly by conducting urine test. Urine of patient with kidney disease will contain traces of albumin. Albumin is a plasma protein formed due to thickening of glomerulus. Medication is made depending on the intensity of albumin level in urine. Albumin concentration with less than 30 mg per day in urine is referred as microalbuminuria and those with albumin concentration greater than 300 mg per day in urine is referred as clinical albuminuria or macroalbuminuria. Growth of nephropathy increases albumin concentration in urine. Intensity of nephropathy can be checked by conducting kidney biopsy in patients.

Now let's see various causes for the occurrence of nephropathy. Increase in blood sugar level is considered as the primary cause of nephropathy. Hyper tension, a factor of nephropathy effects normal renal function and creates an increase in plasma volume. Nephropathy acts as a silent killer in earlier stages and shows its symptoms only at later stages. Edema or swelling of body parts is one of the symptoms shown by nephropathy. Nephropathy may some times block normal blood circulation in patients causing arteriosclerosis. Vomiting, headache, itching, frequent hiccups and poor appetite or anorexia are some other symptoms shown by a patient with nephropathy.

Preventive measures for controlling nephropathy can be started by controlling blood sugar level. Do continuous blood sugar monitoring and plan diet according to glucose level in blood. Prepare a diabetic diet by seeking the help of your diabetic specialist. Make your meals special by including food items rich in protein. Soy beans, legumes, whole grains and legumes are some of food samples rich with protein concentration. Try to maintain cholesterol level and hypertension under control by proper medication.

Today, several antihypertensive drugs for reducing growth of nephropathy are easily available in market. Taking ACE inhibitors reduces the risk of diabetic nephropathy. Use of ACE inhibitors helps in reducing albumin concentration in urine. Studies say that ACE inhibitors contribute mainly to type 1 diabetic by retarding the growth of nephropathy. In case of type 2 diabetic patients, both ACE inhibitors and ARB are used for treatment. Patients should limit intake of food items with rich iodine concentration. Do not take non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs while taking treatment for nephropathy. Taking drugs like naproxen creates negative impact on patients. If not treated in earlier stage of disease, nephropathy even results in premature death of patient.