What is diabetic kidney disease?

Diabetic Nephropathy or Diabetic Kidney Disease is a condition of progressive kidney damage in people with diabetes mellitus or diabetes. The high blood sugar levels due to uncontrolled diabetes may lead to the damage of the filtering membranes in the kidneys.

The normal functioning of the kidneys then start deteriorating and in most serious cases resulting in kidney failure. This condition is mostly seen in people with type 1 diabetes. This disorder is very difficult to diagnose as the symptoms usually show up only when there is severe kidney damage. The symptoms range from swelling in the body, unintended weight gain, nausea and vomiting, headaches, frequent hiccups, unintended weight loss, feelings of illness etc.

The primary indication of the disease is the increased amounts of protein which can be found out with a simple urine test. However there are special blood and urine tests for a detailed evaluation.

Diabetic Kidney Disease can be treated and prevented with various methods and steps.

1. Treatment methods in Diabetic Nephropathy are used to slow the progression of kidney failure. Various ACE inhibitor drugs are mainly used to lower the protein levels in the body.
2. The blood glucose levels should be very closely monitored and controlled. Oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin injections are usually used to manage diabetes. Poor kidney function often leads to incomplete expulsion of insulin from the body so it is better to take insulin in smaller doses.
3. Diet plays a very important role in controlling this disease. The patients must be put on a strict diet to control blood glucose levels properly.
4. It is very important to control high blood pressure in patients with Diabetic kidney disease. High blood pressure often damages the kidneys.
5. Urinary tract infections are commonly seen in patients with this disease. Any indication of such infections should be diagnosed immediately and controlled with appropriate antibiotics.

With proper preventive methods the diabetes patients can avoid Diabetic Kidney Disease to a large extent. Dialysis is the end stage medical treatment in a kidney failure. Kidney transplant could be a better option according to the conditions and requirements of the patient.