Diabetic nephropathy is one of the serious complications of diabetes, it can lead to extreme renal failure and the need for renal replacement therapy, i.e. dialysis. Nephropathy cannot be cured, but the progression of diabetic kidney disease can be slowed down, for example by eating the right diet.

Diabetic nephropathyis a not so rare complication of diabetes. Diabetes causes chronic excess blood sugar, which significantly increases the blood flow through the glomeruli, damaging them. Under the influence of glucose, substances (e.g. sorbitol) accumulate in the glomeruli and blood vessels, which negatively affect their structure and functioning.

Other active substances disrupt the work of nephrons (they filter the blood). The permeability of the glomeruli increases and protein is constantly present in the urine. Over time, their hardening and fibrosis of the renal parenchyma, i.e. renal failure, also occur.

Diabetic Nephropathy: Causes

Increased risk of developing diabetic nephropathy is caused by:

  • high blood pressure
  • high total cholesterol
  • low HDL and triglyceride levels
  • frequent urinary tract infections

The most dangerous is arterial hypertension, because it damages the blood vessels of the kidneys, which leads to their failure. The coexistence of diabetes and high blood pressure increases the risk of end-stage renal disease by about 5 times.

Diabetic Nephropathy: Research

Nephropathy occurs in 9-40 percent patients with type 1 diabetes and in 3-50% with type 2 diabetes. The disease is diagnosed by testing the urine for protein. There are no early signs of disease because the kidneys are not hurt. When there is pain or other evidence of disability, it is too late for preventive measures, and sometimes even for effective treatment.

That is why a diabetic patient must perform a urine albumin test once a year. In the case of type 1 diabetes, the examination should be started 5 years after the diagnosis of the disease, in type 2 diabetes - right after the diagnosis.

Diabetic nephropathy treatment

Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetic kidney disease, but you can slow its progression. The basis is the correct treatment of the samediabetes, i.e. the best glycemic control, controlling arterial hypertension (it should not exceed 130/80 mmHg, and in people with high proteinuria, it should be lower than 125/80 mmHg).

Usually, the patient needs to take several medications to lower blood pressure. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels should also be monitored. Diet is an important ally in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

Diet for diabetic nephropathy

S alt should be kept to a minimum. You also need to eat little meat as it increases the levels of calcium, oxalate and uric acid which promote the formation of kidney stones. For the same reason, we have to give up spinach, rhubarb, beetroot and beetroot. Black tea, sweetened drinks, and chocolate make the urine acidic, so in this case they work badly for the kidneys. You need to drink a lot of water, it can be flavored with apple juice. It is worth remembering about fiber (rice or corn bran).

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Diabetes