Diabetic Nephropathy
Epidemiology & Etiology:
Stages of the disease:
You might know you’re suffering from Diabetic Nephropathy, if you have one or all of these symptoms:
Diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy:
Well, there is still a hope, there is a treatment.
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And here are some questions that may be going on your mind and their answers:
Q: what is the main goal of treatment?
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The primary purpose of treatment is to maintain and control blood glucose level and blood pressure.
Q: what are the medication that can be used?
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Sometimes, this may involve the use of medication to low blood pressure and prevent or slow the damage to kidneys. Like Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, also called ACE inhibitors.
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Some new diabetic medications, including sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors (SGLT-2 inhibitors) and glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 agonists, may also protect the kidneys.
Q: If Diabetic Nephropathy has developed to the final stage and end-stage renal failure (ESRF) will these medications will be effective?
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No, If diabetic nephropathy has developed to the final stage and ESRF then there are only two types of treatment available, kidney dialysis and kidney transplant.
Q: what is kidney dialysis and what is its types?
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Kidney dialysis is a procedure during which waste products are separated from the blood and removed from the body. Dialysis acts as a substitute for a healthy kidney
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A person who requires kidney dialysis will usually have to undergo the treatment for the rest of their life or until a kidney transplant is available.
Q: what is kidney transplant? When does the patient need it?
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People can survive with one working kidney, so a donor is an option for some people. However, the body receiving the kidney may still reject the new organ. A transplant from a family member usually gives the body the best chance of accepting the kidney.
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Surgery for a kidney transplant is done using a general anaesthetic and takes about 3 to 4 hours.
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Around 20% of transplanted kidneys are rejected by the recipient's body.
After all that’s been said, the question that we should ask ourselves is "How do I prevent that from happening to me?"
The answer is quite simple and can be done with a few steps, and it all begins with YOU.
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At the moment, glycemic control, blood pressure lowering, and inhibition of the RAS are the major treatment strategies once diabetes is present. So the main aim is to learn how to measure your own blood pressure and glucose level, which has been made easy with a wide variety of user-friendly at home devices.
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Another thing to work on is to STOP SMOKING, which can be achieved with the help of smoking cessation programs and support groups.
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Last but certainly not least is Exercise, what we should all be doing which is following a 2-3 times a week light-moderate exercise program.
