Diabetic nephropathy is a progressive kidney disease that results as a complication of diabetes. Such a syndrome was discovered by British physician Clifford Wilson and by a German born physician in the name of Paul Kimmelstiel.

The diabetic nephropathy syndrome can be seen in patients with chronic diabetes (most of the time less than 15 years after onset), so diabetic patients are usually of older age (between 50 and 70 years of age). Such a disease ,most frequent in men,is progressive and may cause death two or three years after the initial lesions. Nephropathy may be present for many years before high protein in the urine ( macroalbuminuria) or chronic kidney failure develop.

In the United States, diabetic nephropathy is regarded as the most common cause of chronic kidney failure and end-stage kidney disease . Diabetic individuals with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at high risk. The risk is more higher in cases where blood-glucose levels are poorly controlled. Moreover, once nephropathy develops, it has been found that the greatest rate of progression is seen in patients with poor control of their blood pressure. Those with high cholesterol level in their blood also have much more risk than others.

What increases the risk of developing diabetic kidney disease?

All diabetic individuals have a risk of developing diabetic kidney disease. However, research has shown that there are certain factors that increase the risk of developing such a condition. These factors are:

Alcohol,tobacco,conventional animal meat and many of the other "dead" processed foods accelerate the deterioration of the kidneys.

Causes of Diabetic Nephropathy

High blood pressure or hypertension tends to contribute most directly to diabetic nephropathy. Research have shown that Hypertension can be both the cause of diabetic nephropathy, as well as the result of damage that is created by the disease. As such a disease progresses, physical changes in the kidneys often lead to increased blood pressure.

How to prevent diabetic nephropathy ?

Intensive management of diabetes and its symptoms, including taking medications to lower blood pressure can slow the onset and progression of diabetic nephropathy Having a good control of your blood glucose level, treating high blood pressure keeping your weight in check and will greatly reduce your risk of developing diabetic kidney disease.

In the early stages of diabetic nephropathy,there are no symptoms. Small amounts of protein leaking into the urine (microalbuminuria) may be the only sign of kidney damage. Normally, protein is not found in urine except during periods of strenuous exercise, high fever ,pregnancy, or infection. But with more severe kidney disease symptoms that may develop include:

Various other problems may develop,as the kidney function declines . For instance, phosphate and other chemicals in the bloodstream and anaemia and an imbalance of calcium. These can cause various other symptoms, such bone thinning or fractures due to calcium and phosphate imbalance and tiredness due to anaemia. The last stage renal failure is eventually fatal if left untreated.

Is there a treatment for diabetic nephropathy?