Diabetes is one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease.
For people with diabetes, the symptoms of kidney disease may happen faster. It is important for people with diabetes and kidney problems to be actively managed as soon as possible.
If diabetes is not controlled properly or you have poor diabetic control it can lead to complications with other parts of your body. Diabetes can affect the blood circulation throughout the body.
DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY
Diabetic Nephropathy is damage to both kidneys caused by diabetes. It can occur in patient whose diabetes is treated with diet, tablets or insulin. It does not usually occur until a person has had diabetes for about 10 years, but since some people can have had diabetes for a long time without knowing, it can appear much sooner after diagnosis.
DO ALL DIABETIC PATIENTS GET NEPHROPATHY?
About one in four (1/4) people with diabetes will get diabetic nephropathy. Some people are more likely to be affected than others. It tends to run in families, especially in those with a family history of high blood pressure.
Diabetic nephropathy is detected with urine tests carried out in diabetic clinics. The tests are used to identify protein in the urine. Sometimes blood tests are done to show that the kidneys are not working as they should. Although this could be due to diabetic nephropathy, it can also mean that the kidneys a have been damaged by something else eg. Infection, kidney stones.
Without treatment diabetic nephropathy tends to get worse but the rate at which it does so varies from person to person. First the kidneys leak more protein into the urine which may cause swelling Oedema (swelling) initially of the ankles. As this happens the blood pressure rises.
Eventually the kidneys may become so damaged that they are unable to do their job properly. This is called renal failure. There is a build up of waste products in the blood which can cause people to feel unwell with nausea and itching.(See Signs and Symptoms) They may become anaemic which can cause tiredness. As more fluid builds up it can get into the lungs causing breathlessness.
Bone pain may occur as calcium is lost from the bones. People often notice that their diabetic control changes, sometimes becoming easier to manage, but often with more frequent hypoglycaemia (low blood sugars). The diabetic treatment often has to be changed.
Metformin tablets must not be given to people with renal failure, so different treatment may be prescribed. The does of other tablets or insulin may need to be reduced.
The kidneys can be severely damaged by this disease and people with diabetic nephropathy may eventually need dialysis or a kidney transplant.
