Diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy

           People, who have had diabetes for many years, will have complications of different organs. Importantly, the blood vessels throughout whole body become hard and thick, causing the decreasing of blood supply to the body. If diabetes is poorly controlled, complications will occur earlier than usual. Normally, kidney disease tends to occur more than 10 years later of diabetes. Read for more details.

Diabetic nephropathy

People, who have had diabetes for many years, will have complications of different organs. Importantly, the blood vessels throughout whole body become hard and thick, causing the decreasing of blood supply to the body. If diabetes is poorly controlled, complications will occur earlier than usual. Normally, kidney disease tends to occur more than 10 years later of diabetes.

If it shows swelling in the arms, legs, face, and body, it is an indication of the onset of kidney dysfunction.

Early detecting of kidney disease in diabetic patients is high blood pressure or protein leakage in the urine.

When the kidneys begin to deteriorate, a blood test will be required to check kidney function. The level of urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine are higher than normal people.

Kidney complications in diabetes patients

cystitis

Swelling

Infectious nephritis

Sudden kidney failure

Chronic renal failure

Risk factors for diabetic nephropathy

Kidney disease is found approximately 30 - 35 % of diabetic patients.

Risk factors for kidney disease include:

Male gender

Heredity

High sugar level

High blood pressure

Protein leakage in the urine

Smoking

How do you know if you have diabetic nephropathy?

Pale

Swelling

High blood pressure

Body itching

Loss of appetite and weight loss

Exhaustion, nausea, and vomiting in the last stage

However, the incidence of diabetic nephropathy often shows additional symptoms from chronic kidney failure patients, which are complications caused by diabetes include:

Numbness of hands and feet

Chest pain

Amblyopia

Limb weakness

Chronic ulcers on the skin and feet

Diabetes care to prevent kidney disease

• Annual urine testing for protein
• Control the sugar levels in the blood close to normal
• Control blood pressure
• Avoid using harmful drugs or substances to the kidneys, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, and contrast agents
• Observe and provide treatment for other conditions that cause kidney dysfunction, such as urinary tract infections

Caring for patients with diabetes and kidney disease

• Annual urine testing for protein for the function of the kidneys
• Take the medicines prescribed by the doctor in a row and see the doctor as scheduled.
• Abstain from smoking and alcohol, which affect blood vessels.
• Take painkillers or other drugs under the advice of a doctor and pharmacist.
• Avoid salty, spicy, pickled, and canned food when there is swelling
• Control blood pressure and take medicine regularly
• Be careful with the food that contains high cholesterol
• Eat more vegetables and fish
• Examine other organs, such as the eyes, heart, lungs
• Examine the skin and feet without chronic wounds
• Consume less meat and salty food during treatment with hemodialysis
• Strictly control blood sugar levels

Examples of high fat foods to be aware

1. High cholesterol diet

Seafood

Beef – Pork

Shrimp

Shellfish

Durian

Butter

2. High triglyceride diet

Starchy food

Dessert

Sweet fruit

Alcoholic beverages

Written by Prof. Dr. Leena Ongartyuth,

Department of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine

Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, President of the Kidney Association of Thailand