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Diabetic nephropathy
What are the symptoms of diabetic nephropathy?
Kidney disease caused by diabetes is called diabetic nephropathy. In the early stages, patients may not have any noticeable discomfort, while some may experience soreness and discomfort in the lower back. However, as diabetic nephropathy progresses, with further increase in urinary protein, patients will see more foam in their urine and may also experience swelling of the eyelids and lower limbs. Once diabetic nephropathy progresses to the stage of uremia, patients will exhibit symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, general weakness, loss of appetite, increased frequency of urination at night, significant increase in blood pressure, and reduced urine output. Additionally, symptoms of anemia may also occur. Therefore, diabetic nephropathy must be given adequate attention to prevent the onset of uremia.
Can people with diabetic nephropathy eat peanuts?
Diabetic nephropathy, as the name suggests, is a renal complication caused by long-term diabetes. The typical early symptom is a significant amount of proteinuria, which can usually be detected as high protein levels during routine urine tests. If it progresses to a late stage, the substantial amount of proteinuria can lead to general edema and possibly heart failure. Currently, there is no particularly effective treatment for diabetic nephropathy. The primary approach is to control blood sugar levels, keeping fasting blood glucose below 7 and postprandial glucose below 10. Diet-wise, it's important to consume low-salt, low-fat, diabetic-friendly foods. Daily salt intake should not exceed three grams. Foods that are fried, greasy, or high in starch, such as vermicelli, sweet potatoes, taro, and potatoes should be consumed in moderation. Peanuts, which are high in oil content, can be eaten in small amounts but not excessively, as they may also cause indigestion.
Can diabetic nephropathy be controlled?
The treatment of diabetic nephropathy is indeed a medical challenge currently. This disease is related to metabolic disorder, with factors such as high blood sugar state advanced glycation end products and oxidative stress contributing to the damage of the glomerular capillaries. Presently, there is no cure for this disease, nor is there a specific effective treatment. However, many patients have used certain treatments that can effectively delay the progression of the disease. Clinically, common measures include controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood lipids. Additionally, combining the use of ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors can reduce the pressure within the renal corpuscles and lower urine protein levels.
Can diabetic nephropathy cause blood in urine?
Diabetes-induced kidney damage primarily affects the glomeruli, leading to hardening and narrowing of glomerular blood vessels. Clinically, this is manifested by proteinuria, starting with small amounts of urinary protein and progressively increasing to large amounts, ultimately causing renal failure. Generally, hematuria is rare during the course of diabetic nephropathy. If a patient with diabetic nephropathy experiences hematuria, and the cause is unexplained, it is generally recommended that the patient undergo procedures such as a kidney biopsy to further clarify the cause. It is possible that the patient may have other forms of glomerulonephritis, or an ultrasound of the urinary system should be performed to rule out common causes of blood in the urine, such as urinary system stones or tumors.
Can diabetic nephropathy with swollen feet be treated?
Patients with diabetic nephropathy who experience swelling in their feet often have significant amounts of protein in their urine or may have already developed renal failure. While there are ways to manage foot swelling, the fundamental issues may not be resolved. For swelling, diuretics can be used to increase urine output. If diuretics are ineffective, hemodialysis may be employed to ultrafiltrate and remove excess fluid from the body and alleviate swelling. However, these measures only address the symptoms on the surface. For patients with diabetic nephropathy, the underlying causes are due to diabetes, oxidative stress, and high blood sugar states, which damage the kidneys. Currently, there is no specific clinical treatment for these fundamental issues.
What foods should be eaten for diabetic nephropathy?
Diabetic nephropathy is essentially a complication of the kidneys caused by diabetes, characterized by a history of diabetes for at least five to ten years, with very poor blood sugar control, leading to diabetic nephropathy. The main clinical manifestation is a large amount of proteinuria. Typically, patients will have a large amount of urinary protein, even exceeding 3.5 grams, and some patients may also experience swelling in the lower limbs, among other symptoms. Currently, dietary considerations for diabetic nephropathy mainly include a low-salt, low-fat, high-quality protein diet, and a diabetic diet. Avoid eating foods high in starch, such as potatoes, peanuts, Chinese yam, taro, etc., and also avoid foods high in sugar. Cucumbers, bitter melon, celery, and tomatoes are all good options to consider.
Can diabetic nephropathy cause blood in urine?
Generally speaking, diabetic nephropathy does not cause hematuria. The main site of damage in diabetic nephropathy is indeed the glomerulus. Prolonged hyperglycemia and metabolic disorders can lead to damage to the capillaries of the glomerulus. However, the main clinical characteristic of this damage is proteinuria, which causes glomerulosclerosis and may also lead to renal failure, but it is rare for patients to have red blood cells in their urine or to experience hematuria. Therefore, if a patient with diabetic nephropathy has visible hematuria, such as red or tea-colored urine, it is necessary to check for other causes beyond diabetes, such as urinary tract infections, urogenital system stones, tumors, etc., all of which can cause hematuria.
Which department to see for diabetic nephropathy?
In principle, patients with diabetic nephropathy should seek treatment in the nephrology department of a formal public hospital. Diabetes occurs when there is an absolute deficiency or relative insufficiency in insulin secretion, leading to a state characterized by high blood sugar and various metabolic waste disorders. Such a syndrome can cause damage to multiple organs. The kidneys are a major target organ for damage, and as kidney disease develops, patients may experience proteinuria and potentially progress to renal failure. Therefore, to treat and protect kidney function, it is advised that patients with diabetic nephropathy seek care in the nephrology department of a formal public hospital, where nephrologists can devise a more reasonable treatment plan.
Early symptoms of diabetic nephropathy
The early symptoms of diabetic nephropathy primarily include the presence of microalbuminuria, which is characterized by an albumin excretion rate of 30 to 300 mg per 24 hours, or a ratio of albumin to creatinine in spot urine ranging from 30 to 300 mg/g. However, this value needs to be tested three times over six months, with at least two of these tests meeting the above criteria for a diagnosis. Additionally, in the early stages of diabetes, patients' blood pressure tends to be within the normal range, but there is a trend toward elevation. Some patients may experience changes in the diurnal rhythm of their blood pressure, and the glomerular filtration rate may slightly increase or remain within the normal range.
Can diabetic nephropathy patients eat kelp?
Patients with diabetic nephropathy should avoid eating seafood, including various types of sea fish, shellfish, as well as seaweed, kelp, and so on. This is because these seafood products contain a certain amount of purines, and some foods have a high purine content. When purines enter the human body, they are metabolized and eventually converted into uric acid, which needs to be excreted by the kidneys. Patients with kidney disease have decreased ability to excrete uric acid, and the accumulation of uric acid may cause further damage to the kidneys and also affect the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. Therefore, generally speaking, it is advised that patients with diabetic nephropathy should avoid eating kelp. However, if the patient’s condition is in the early stages and kidney function is still normal, consuming some kelp in moderation generally should not be a problem, but it should not be consumed in large amounts.