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OVERVIEW

What is diabetic nephropathy?

Diabetes can affect many parts of the body, including the kidneys. In healthy kidneys, many tiny blood vessels filter waste products from your body. The blood vessels have holes that are big enough to allow tiny waste products to pass through into the urine but are still small enough to keep useful products (such as protein and red blood cells) in the blood. High levels of sugar in the blood can damage these vessels if diabetes is not controlled. This can cause kidney disease, which is also called nephropathy. If the damage is bad enough, your kidneys could stop working.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy does not usually cause any symptoms until kidney damage is severe. As the condition progresses, symptoms can include the following:

• Swelling of the feet and ankles
• Weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Upset stomach
• Insomnia and difficulty sleeping
• Confusion and trouble thinking

CAUSES

Diabetic nephropathy is a result of diabetes. Over time, high levels of sugar can damage kidneys. Kidney damage is more likely if your blood sugar is uncontrolled. It is also more likely if you smoke or if you have high blood pressure.

DIAGNOSIS & TESTS

How is diabetic nephropathy diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will test your urine for protein. If there is protein in your urine, this could mean that your diabetes has damaged the holes in the blood vessels of your kidneys. This makes the holes big enough for protein and other nutrients your body needs to leak into your urine. Your healthcare provider may also want to do a blood test to see how much damage has been done to the kidneys.

PREVENTION

Can diabetic nephropathy be prevented or avoided?

The best way to prevent diabetic nephropathy is to keep your blood sugar regulated. You should also regularly check your blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to a decrease in kidney function. Keeping blood pressure in the normal range can help prevent damage to your kidneys.

TREATMENT

If you have been diagnosed with diabetic nephropathy, you can slow down the damage. Here are some of the most important things you can do to protect your kidneys:

• Keep your blood pressure under control. High blood pressure can speed up damage to the kidneys. Your healthcare provider may give you medicine to help lower your blood pressure.
• Control your blood sugar level. You should take your diabetes medicines and/or insulin exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes.
• Stick to a healthy diet. People who have diabetic nephropathy may need to eat less protein.
• Be physically active every day.
• Stop smoking.
• Check with your healthcare provider before taking any new medicines. This includes vitamins, herbal medicines and over-the-counter medicines.
• Keep all of your follow up appointments

Even with the right treatments, diabetic nephropathy can get worse over time. Your kidneys could stop working. This is called kidney failure. If this happens, waste products build up in your body. This can cause nausea, vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath and confusion. In severe cases, kidney failure can cause seizures and coma.

If you have kidney failure, your healthcare provider will refer you for dialysis. In dialysis, a machine is used to take waste products out of the blood. One kind of dialysis has to be done in a clinic. For another kind of dialysis, the machine is so small it can be strapped to your body while you go about your daily activities. If you develop kidney failure, your healthcare provider will help you decide which type of dialysis machine is right for you.

Living with diabetic nephropathy

Receiving treatment early can slow or even stop diabetic nephropathy from advancing. The disease progresses slowly. Not everyone who develops diabetic nephropathy will reach the stage of kidney failure. Having diabetes does not mean you will develop the disease.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Diabetes Canada
http://www.diabetes.ca

PEI Government Website
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/topic/diabetes

Health Canada website at:
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-concerns/diseases-conditions/diabetes.html