Kidney Disease (Diabetic Nephropathy) Facts, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Kidney disease (also known as diabetic nephropathy) is a complication of diabetes that starts when the blood vessels in the kidney become leaky. These leaky blood vessels allow protein from the blood to be excreted into the urine. Eventually, some vessels collapse and place more pressure on those that remain. Under this increased load, the remaining blood vessels are also damaged and the kidney may fail. The disease may progress to where the patient may have to be placed on dialysis where a machine performs the role of the kidney or receive a transplant.
This disease takes years to develop and statistics have shown that from 10-20 percent of diabetics develop it. Ethnic groups and races such as African Americans, Native American Indians, and Hispanics have faster rates of developing this disease than Caucasians.
Type 1
and
Type 2
diabetes patients are at a higher risk to developing diabetes nephropathy.
Symptoms of Diabetic Nephropathy
- Fatigue
- Foamy appearance to the urine
- Frequent hiccups
- General ill feeling
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Poor appetite
- Swelling of the legs
- Swelling usually around the eyes in the morning (general body swelling may occur with late-stages of the disease)
- Unintentional weight gain from fluid buildup
Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy
- Control of blood pressure (The most effective way of slowing kidney damage down.)
- Medication
- Control of blood sugar levels (As kidney failure gets worse your body removes less insulin.)
- Take
nutritional supplements
to fill in nutrition deficiency gaps
- Dialysis or kidney transplant may be considered in serious stages of the disease.
