Diabetic nephropathy

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Diabetic nephropathy (pronounced: di-uh-BET-ik nef-ROP-uh-thee) is a serious kidney-related complication of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. It is also called diabetic kidney disease.

Etymology

The term "Diabetic nephropathy" is derived from the Greek words "diabetes" (a siphon) and "nephros" (kidney). The term "nephropathy" means damage or disease of the kidney.

Overview

Diabetic nephropathy affects the ability of the kidneys to do their usual work of removing waste products and extra fluid from the body. The best way to prevent or delay diabetic nephropathy is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and treating diabetes and high blood pressure.

Symptoms

In the early stages of diabetic nephropathy, you may not notice any symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, symptoms may include:

  • Swelling in the hands, feet, and face
  • Weight gain from fluid buildup
  • Trouble sleeping or concentrating
  • Poor appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Weakness or fatigue
  • Anemia and other blood abnormalities

Causes

Diabetic nephropathy is caused by damage to small blood vessels in the kidneys. This damage can cause the vessels to become leaky or, in some cases, to stop working, making the kidneys work harder.

Risk Factors

The following factors may increase the risk of developing diabetic nephropathy:

  • Poor control of blood sugar
  • High blood pressure
  • Smoking
  • Family history of kidney disease
  • Age, with risk increasing as you get older
  • Race or ethnicity, with African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and American Indians being at higher risk than whites

Prevention

Prevention of diabetic nephropathy involves managing diabetes and monitoring blood pressure. Lifestyle changes and medications can help control high blood pressure.

Treatment

Treatment for diabetic nephropathy focuses on slowing the progression of kidney damage. This is often done by controlling high blood sugar and high blood pressure, and by making dietary changes.

See Also

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski