General Recommendations for Diabetic Nephropathy Patients

What is Diabetic Nephropathy? Diabetic Nephropathy, also known as diabetic kidney disease, is a serious complication associated with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In Iran, nearly one-third (30.6%) of patients with type 2 diabetes suffer from this condition.

Symptoms In its early stages, diabetic nephropathy may not present any symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, you may experience:

  • Increasingly difficult-to-control high blood pressure
  • Swelling in your feet, ankles, hands, or eyes
  • Foamy urine
  • Confusion or difficulty thinking
  • Shortness of breath
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Itching
  • Tiredness and weakness

Causes Poorly controlled diabetes can damage the blood vessels in your kidneys responsible for filtering waste from your blood, leading to kidney damage and high blood pressure. This high blood pressure can further damage your kidneys by increasing the pressure in the kidney’s filtering system.

Risk Factors Factors that increase your risk of developing diabetic nephropathy include:

  • Uncontrolled high blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Smoking
  • High blood cholesterol
  • Obesity
  • A family history of diabetes and kidney disease

Complications Complications from diabetic nephropathy develop slowly over months or years and may include:

  • Fluid buildup in the body leading to swelling in the arms and legs, high blood pressure, or fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema)
  • Increased levels of potassium in the blood (hyperkalemia)
  • Heart and blood vessel disease (cardiovascular disease), which could lead to a stroke
  • Anemia, a condition characterized by fewer red blood cells to carry oxygen
  • Pregnancy complications posing risks to both the pregnant individual and the fetus
  • Irreversible kidney damage, known as end-stage kidney disease, requiring treatment through dialysis or a kidney transplant

Prevention To prevent or slow the progression of diabetic nephropathy:

  • Regularly visit your healthcare team to manage your diabetes and check for diabetic nephropathy and other complications
  • Effectively manage your diabetes to keep your blood sugar levels within the target range
  • Control high blood pressure and other medical conditions that increase your risk of kidney disease
  • Only take over-the-counter medicines as directed. Certain pain relievers, such as aspirin, naproxen sodium (Aleve), and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), can lead to kidney damage in people with diabetic nephropathy
  • Maintain a healthy weight through regular physical activity. If you need to lose weight, consult your healthcare team for guidance
  • Avoid smoking as it can damage your kidneys or exacerbate existing kidney damage. If you’re a smoker, seek help from your healthcare team to quit. Support groups, counseling, and certain medications may be beneficial