Pathophysiology of Diabetic Nephropathy Discussion Paper

Pathophysiology of Diabetic Nephropathy Discussion Paper

Diabetic nephropathy is a type of kidney disease that can occur in people with diabetes and is caused by damage to the small blood vessels in the kidneys, which can lead to them not working properly. According to Selby and Taal (2020) it can cause a build-up of toxins in the blood and eventually lead to kidney failure. Also, diabetic nephropathy can be caused by long-term high blood sugar levels, which can lead to damages to the small blood vessels in the kidneys. High blood pressure can also increase the risk of developing diabetic nephropathy. Pathophysiology of Diabetic Nephropathy Discussion Paper

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Symptoms

1. Swelling of the legs, ankles, and feet
2. Increased urination, especially at night

• Foamy urine

1. Proteinuria (excess protein in the urine)
2. High blood pressure
3. Fatigue and weakness

• Itching

Management

To manage the disease, the patients’ needs to make lifestyle changes such as controlling blood sugar levels and blood pressure, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly (Chen et al., 2020). Medications may also be prescribed to help control symptoms and slow down progression. It may sometimes be necessary for dialysis or kidney transplants to be done. Pathophysiology of Diabetic Nephropathy Discussion Paper

Diabetic Nephropathy and Eventual Renal Failure

According to Selby and Taal (2020), poorly controlled diabetes could trigger the emergence of diabetic nephropathy and renal failure. This is because high blood sugar levels can cause damage to the small blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to a build-up of toxins in the blood. When this happens, the patient experiences inflammation in the kidneys and damage the glomeruli, the tiny filters in the kidneys that filter out waste products. Samsu (2021) has explained that the build-up of toxins in the blood is what triggers high blood pressure, whose effect includes further damage the kidneys and making them less efficient at filtering out waste products from the body. Pathophysiology of Diabetic Nephropathy Discussion Paper

References

Chen, Y., Lee, K., Ni, Z., & He, J. C. (2020). Diabetic kidney disease: challenges, advances, and opportunities. Kidney diseases, 6(4), 215-225. https://doi.org/10.1159/000506634

Samsu, N. (2021). Diabetic nephropathy: challenges in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. BioMed Research International, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/1497449

Selby, N. M., & Taal, M. W. (2020). An updated overview of diabetic nephropathy: Diagnosis, prognosis, treatment goals and latest guidelines. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 22, 3-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.14007 Pathophysiology of Diabetic Nephropathy Discussion Paper