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- Type of diabetes; type 1 has more risk of developing the condition faster.
- Uncontrolled hyperglycemia (high blood sugar/glucose level)
- Increased cholesterol in the blood.
- Uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Duration of etes; the longer you have been affected with diabetes, the greater the risk of having diabetic kidney disease.
- Family history of diabetic Mellitus and kidney disease.
- Age; the older you are the greater the risk of developing the condition because your glomeruli filtration rate (GFR) reduces as you age.
- Gender; males are at more risk of developing diabetic nephropathy than females.
- Smoking; smokes do a lot of damage to the kidney and if you are a diabetic patient who smokes, you are at a very high risk of developing the condition.
- Obesity
- Hypertension
- End-stage renal (kidney) disease (ESRD)
- Pulmonary edema; blood clots that move to and block the lungs
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Heart failure
- Hyperkalemia; high blood potassium level.
- Diabetic retinopathy; damage to the blood vessels in the eyes’ retina.
- Anemia
- Foot sores
- Erectile dysfunctions
- Complications in pregnancy.
- Urine test; to check the level of protein (albumin) and blood in the urine.
- Blood Test; to evaluate the amount of creatinine, a chemical waste product in the blood.
- Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR); to calculate the amount of waste product the kidneys filter in a minute.
- Imagery Tests; like CT, MRI scans, and X-rays to check the outline of the kidney for increase or damage.
- Medications
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to curb hypertension.
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) to control high blood pressure.
- Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors to reduce high blood sugar.
- Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) to prevent cardiovascular disease
- Vitamin D to reduce cholesterol levels.
- Drugs to reduce protein in the urine.
- Dialysis
- Hemodialysis, and
- Peritoneal dialysis.
- Kidney Transplant
- Make dietary changes; reduce the intake of anything that can lead to complications such as water to ease frequent urination and reduce the consumption of sodium, potassium, protein, and phosphorus.
- Quit damaging habits such as smoking, street drugs, and alcohol.
- Control high blood sugar and pressure levels.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
Symptoms
Symptoms
The symptoms of diabetic nephropathy are broken down into the stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- Stage 1 and 2 are the stages of mild loss of kidney function and rarely show any signs.
- Stage 3 begins to show, not too many signs, but relatable signs enough to give a hint of function loss.
- Stage 4 and 5 comprise of severe and chronic kidney damage with obvious signs of loss of function. Stage 5 is mostly referred to as end-stage renal failure where dialysis and subsequently kidney transplant is needed.
However, this progresses very slowly and if diabetes is managed properly, it can take 15 to 25 years before signs can show. When signs begin to show, they include the following:
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Nocturia; frequent urination at night
- Sour or metallic taste buds
- Breathing difficulties
- Swollen face, joints, feet, and hands.
- Hematuria (blood in urine or dark urine)
- Protein in urine
- Lack of appetite
- Weight loss
- Sleeping and concentration troubles.
- Muscle cramps
- Drowsiness
- Headaches
- Diarrhea
- Itchy skin
Causes
Causes
Diabetic nephropathy is a complication of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. It occurs when diabetes causes the kidney to lose function by damaging the part and blood vessels in the kidney (nephron and glomeruli) that filter waste products from the body. This can result in overall kidney damage and cause hypertension.
FAQ
Can diabetic nephropathy be cured?
Diabetic nephropathy cannot be cured. The treatments available are used to slow down the progression of the condition by controlling its causes and symptoms.
What are the stages of diabetic nephropathy?
The stages of diabetic nephropathy follow the stages of chronic kidney disease.
- Stage 1: records little or very minimal damage to the kidney with GFR of 90% and above.
- Stage 2: minimal damage to the kidney with 60 to 89% GFR.
- Stage 3: Increased damage to the kidney with few and upcoming symptoms. GFR of 30 to 59%.
- Stage 4: Severe damage to the kidney with obvious symptoms. Records a GFR of 15% to 29%.
- Stage 5: End-stage renal (kidney) failure. Kidney losses all its functions with less than 15% GFR.
How long does diabetes take to damage kidneys?
Diabetic nephropathy like every nephropathy is very slow progress. Once diabetes has begun to make the kidney lose its function, it can take 10 to 30 years for it to end in ESRD. This duration depends on how well you control your blood sugar level and high blood pressure.
How long does it take for kidneys to become affected?
Type 1 patients often show a change in the functions of their kidneys 2 to 5 years after they have been diagnosed with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes patients may begin losing their function 3 to 7 years after diagnosis. However, research shows that 20 to 40% of diabetes patients advance to more severe cases of kidney failure, with 10 to 30 years.
What is the difference between diabetic nephropathy and diabetic neuropathy?
Diabetic nephropathy is a type of kidney disease that arises in diabetes patients due to the damage diabetic Mellitus does to the kidney. Whereas, diabetic neuropathy is damage to the nervous system caused by diabetes.