Diabetes and Endocrinology

Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy, also called as diabetic kidney disease which is the chronic loss of kidney function occurring in those with diabetes mellitus. Diabetic nephropathy is one of the main causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) globally. Protein losses in the urine due to damage of the glomeruli may become enormous and causes a low serum albumin with resulting generalized body swelling (edema) and result in the nephrotic syndrome. Likewise, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) may progressively fall from a normal of over 90 ml/min/1.73m2 to less than 15, at which point the patient is said to have end-stage renal disease. It usually is slowly progressive over years.