What is Diabetic Nephropathy?

Microvascular kidney damage in diabetic people as a result of not being able to control blood sugar is called nephropathy.

What is Diabetic Nephropathy?

Each kidney consists of approximately 1 million small structures called nephrons. . The blood in the body is cleared of waste by these nephrons. Damage to the nephrons causes the kidneys to be unable to perform their filtering function, thus causing the accumulation of certain substances that need to be eliminated from the body.

Weakness

Palpitations

Hypertension

Reduction in the amount of urine,

Swelling in the hands and feet are the most common symptoms.

How is Diabetic Nephropathy Classified?

Diabetic nephropathy has stages. These stages are;

• Glomerular hyperfiltration
• Silent stage
• Microalbuminuria stage
• Macroalbuminuria
• End stage kidney failure stages.

There are no symptoms in the glomerular hyperfiltration stage. There is an increase in blood flow through the kidneys. That's why the kidneys increase in size. With an effective diabetes control, the growth of the kidneys can be stopped and the kidneys can return to their normal sizes.
In the microalbuminuria stage, the amount of albumin excreted in the urine increases. Microalbuminuria is the name given to the detection of a protein called albumin in the urine. Microalbuminuria is defined as the amount of urine albumin in a healthy person when it is about 20 mg/day, while it is at the level of 30-300 mg/day. Microalbuminuria is the most important finding before clinical nephropathy occurs. If it is diagnosed early, the development of clinical nephropathy can be delayed with preventive treatments. At this stage, the patient needs dialysis treatment or kidney transplantation.

How to Treat Diabetic Nephropathy?

• Ensuring effective blood sugar control and HbA1C <6.0%- It is important to keep it at the level of 7.0%.
• Blood pressure should be kept under control and if there is hypertension, it should be treated.
• Timely treatment of urinary tract infections and regulation of diet should be provided.
• Hyperlipidemia should be treated, and a diet that keeps blood fats within normal limits and low in cholesterol and fat should be adopted.
• Regular exercise and weight loss also help treatment.

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