Learn About Diabetic Nephropathy

What is the definition of Diabetic Nephropathy?

Kidney disease or kidney damage often occurs over time in people with diabetes. This type of kidney disease is called diabetic nephropathy.

What are the alternative names for Diabetic Nephropathy?

Diabetic nephropathy; Nephropathy - diabetic; Diabetic glomerulosclerosis; Kimmelstiel-Wilson disease

What are the causes of Diabetic Nephropathy?

Each kidney is made of hundreds of thousands of small units called nephrons. These structures filter your blood, help remove waste from the body, and control fluid balance.

In people with diabetes, the nephrons slowly thicken and become scarred over time. The nephrons begin to leak, and protein (albumin) passes into the urine. This damage can happen years before any symptoms of kidney disease begin. Some people who have type 2 diabetes that develops slowly already have kidney damage when they are first diagnosed.

Kidney damage is more likely if you:

  • Have uncontrolled blood sugar (glucose)
  • Are obese
  • Have high blood pressure
  • Have type 1 diabetes that began before you were 20 years old
  • Have family members who also have diabetes and kidney problems
  • Smoke
  • Are African American, Mexican American, or Native American
What are the symptoms of Diabetic Nephropathy?

Often, there are no symptoms as the kidney damage starts and slowly gets worse. Kidney damage can begin 5 to 10 years before symptoms start.

People who have more severe and long-term (chronic) kidney disease may have symptoms such as:

  • Fatigue most of the time
  • General ill feeling
  • Headache
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Poor appetite
  • Swelling of the legs
  • Shortness of breath
  • Itchy skin
  • Easily develop infections
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What are the current treatments for Diabetic Nephropathy?

When kidney damage is caught in its early stages, it can be slowed with treatment. Once larger amounts of protein appear in the urine, kidney damage will slowly get worse.

Follow your provider's advice to keep your condition from getting worse.

CONTROL YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE

Keeping your blood pressure under control (below 130/80 milliliters of mercury (mm Hg)) is one of the best ways to slow kidney damage.

  • Your provider will prescribe blood pressure medicines known as ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers to protect your kidneys from more damage if your microalbumin test is too high on at least two measurements.
  • If your blood pressure is in the normal range and you have microalbuminuria, you may still benefit from these medicines. Your provider can help you decide what is best for you.

CONTROL YOUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL

You can also slow kidney damage by controlling your blood sugar level through:

  • Eating healthy foods
  • Getting regular exercise
  • Taking oral or injectable medicines as instructed by your provider
  • Some diabetes medicines are known to prevent the progression of diabetic nephropathy better than other medicines. Talk to your provider about which medicines are best for you.
  • Checking your blood sugar level as often as instructed and keeping a record of your blood sugar numbers so that you know how meals and activities affect your level

OTHER WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR KIDNEYS

  • Contrast dye that is sometimes used with an MRI, CT scan, or other imaging test can cause more damage to your kidneys. Tell the provider who is ordering the test that you have diabetes. Follow instructions about drinking lots of water after the procedure to flush the dye out of your system.
  • Avoid taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen or naproxen for pain. Ask your provider if there is another kind of medicine that you can take instead. NSAIDs can damage the kidneys, more so when you use them every day.
  • Your provider may need to stop or change other medicines that can damage your kidneys.
  • Know the signs of urinary tract infections and get them treated right away.
  • Having a low level of vitamin D may worsen kidney disease. Ask your provider if you need to take vitamin D supplements.
  • Do not use tobacco.
Who are the top Diabetic Nephropathy Local Doctors?
Farhad Nassiri Afshar
Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine

Irys Medical Clinic

1003 Bishop St, Ste 2410, 
Honolulu, HI 
 5.8 mi
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Farhad Nassiri Afshar is an Internal Medicine provider in Honolulu, Hawaii. His top areas of expertise are Heart Failure, Heart Murmurs, Heartburn, and Hypertensive Heart Disease. Dr. Nassiri Afshar is currently accepting new patients.

Endocrinology
Endocrinology

Straub Clinic And Hospital

98 -1079 Moanalua Rd, 
Aiea, HI 
 3.3 mi
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Sheri Chinen is an Endocrinologist in Aiea, Hawaii. Dr. Chinen and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy. Her top areas of expertise are Graves Disease, Thyroid Storm, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and Hyperparathyroidism. Dr. Chinen is currently accepting new patients.

 
 
 
 
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Endocrinology
Endocrinology

Straub Clinic And Hospital

98 -1079 Moanalua Rd, 
Aiea, HI 
 3.3 mi
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Frank Singer is an Endocrinologist in Aiea, Hawaii. Dr. Singer and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy. His top areas of expertise are Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal Osteoporosis, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and Graves Disease. Dr. Singer is currently accepting new patients.

What are the support groups for Diabetic Nephropathy?

Many resources can help you understand more about diabetes. You can also learn ways to manage your kidney disease.

More information and support for people with diabetes and their families can be found at :

  • American Diabetes Association -- www.diabetes.org
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases -- www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes
What is the outlook (prognosis) for Diabetic Nephropathy?

Diabetic kidney disease is a major cause of sickness and death in people with diabetes. It can lead to the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant.

When should I contact a medical professional for Diabetic Nephropathy?

Contact your provider if you have diabetes and you have not had a urine test to check for protein.

What are the latest Diabetic Nephropathy Clinical Trials?
Effects of the ABCA1 Inducer R3R01 on Albuminuria Levels in Diabetic Kidney Disease

Summary: The goal of this clinical trial is to to investigate whether the drug R3R01 has a beneficial effect on the amount of protein excreted in the urine in adult patients (above 18 years of age) with type 2 diabetes and resulting kidney disease. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does 3 months of treatment with 200mg of the drug R3R01 morning and evening have a beneficial effect on the amount ...

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Research on Raman Spectroscopy Detection Technology in Kidney Disease Diagnosis

Summary: This research plan, from January 2021 to December 2024, aims to collect serum and morning urine from patients diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, idiopathic membranous nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis the Nephrology Department of Qianfoshan Hospital in Shandong Province, through renal biopsy. These samples will be scanned using a Raman spect to obtain Raman spe...

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: February 10, 2023
Published By: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Internal review and update on 02/20/2024 by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 11. Chronic kidney disease and risk management: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024. Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S219-S230. PMID: 38078574 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38078574/.

Brownlee M, Aiello LP, Sun JK, et al. Complications of diabetes mellitus. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 37.

Tong LL, Adler S, Wanner C. Prevention and treatment of diabetic kidney disease. In: Johnson RJ, Floege J, Tonelli M, eds. Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 32.