Know about Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetic Nephropathy is one of the most serious complications coming from Diabetes. It is also the major culprits accounting for the deaths of diabetics. Since we have already know the serious consequences of the disease, then how to prevent it from happening and progressing?

The main pathological changes of Diabetic Nephropathy occur in glomerulosclerosis, hyaline change in renal arteriole, the thickening of glomerular basement membrane and expanded mesangial area etc. Diabetic Nephropathy usually is divided into five stages in line with the severity of illness condition. In stage one, no obvious pathological changes occur. The kidney volume enlarged in some patients. In stage 2, still no significant symptoms appear. Sometimes, the patients may suffer from a elevated blood pressure. When the medical condition progresses to stage 3, proteinuria attacks along with the high blood pressure. There stands a chance to reverse the condition in this stage. But if left untreated or choose to ignore, the disease will progress to stage 4 rapidly, which is also called clinical diabetic kidney disease. It is characterized as heavy and persistent albuminuria in accordance with the increasingly elevated blood pressure. ESRD or End-stage Renal Disease shows up when one’s serum creatinine level exceeds 2.0mg/dl. More often than not, Patients with ESRD often live with notably swelling and high blood pressure.

According to the serum creatinine (Scr) level, ESRD can be classified into 3 stages. The first stage is called Chronic Renal Insufficiency as its serum creatinine is no less than 2.0mg/dl. Chronic Renal Failure occurs as the Scr exceeds 5.0mg/dl, this is the second stage. If one’s Scr level reaches up to 8.0mg/dl, then uremia (End-stage Renal Failure) it is.

Here I kindly remind that the diabetics receive dialysis much earlier than ESRD patients induced by other diseases. This is mainly because the diabetes is much more serious than any other diseases. For those who live with diabetes for years, take regular work-ups is vital to your quality of life. Monitor your kidney function from time to time by receiving right tests.