Diabetic nephropathy is a serious complication of type 1 diabetes and types 2 diabetes. It’s also called diabetic kidney disease. In the United States, about 1 in 3 people living with diabetes have diabetic nephropathy.

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

Over many years, the condition slowly damages your kidneys’ delicate filtering system. Early treatment may prevent or slow the disease’s progress and reduce the chance of complications.

Kidney disease may progress to kidney failure, also called end-stage kidney disease. Kidney failure is a life-threatening condition. At this stage, treatment options are dialysis or a kidney transplant.

What Are the Symptoms of Diabetic Nephropathy?

There are often no symptoms with early diabetic nephropathy. As the kidney function worsens, symptoms may include:

• Swelling of the hands, feet, and face
• Trouble sleeping or concentrating
• Poor appetite
• Nausea
• Weakness
• Itching (end-stage kidney disease) and extremely dry skin
• Drowsiness (end-stage kidney disease)
• Abnormalities in the heart’s regular rhythm, because of increased potassium in the blood
• Muscle twitching

As kidney damage progresses, your kidneys cannot remove the waste from your blood. The waste then builds up in your body and can reach poisonous levels, a condition known as uremia. People with uremia are often confused and occasionally become comatose.

Diabetic nephropathy is a reliable cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In ESRD, the kidneys no longer work well to meet the needs of daily life. ESRD can lead to kidney failure, which can have life-threatening consequences. Our CKS Nephrologists will work with our patients and their families to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that includes dietary counseling, exercise, and medication to improve blood sugar control.

How is diabetic nephropathy treated?

In the early stages of diabetic nephropathy, your treatment plan may include medications to manage the following: Blood pressure control. Medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin 2 receptor blockers (ARBs) are used to treat high blood pressure. Blood sugar control

Get Diabetic nephropathy treatment at our San Dimas, Covina, Pasadena, Upland & Ontario Clinics. Please call to make an appointment: California Kidney Specialists

What is a kidney transplant?

A kidney transplant is surgery done to replace a diseased kidney with a healthy kidney from a donor. The kidney may come from a deceased organ donor or a living donor. Family members or others who are a good match may be able to donate one of their kidneys. This type of transplant is called a living transplant.

What are the reasons for a kidney transplant?

You may need a kidney transplant if you have the end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This is a permanent condition of kidney failure. It often needs dialysis. This is a process used to remove wastes and other substances from the blood.

Complications of the procedure

Kidney transplant surgery carries a risk of significant complications, including:

• Blood clots and bleeding
• Leaking from or blockage of the tube that links the kidney to the bladder (ureter)
• Infection
• Failure or rejection of the donated kidney
• An infection or cancer that can be passed on from the donated kidney
• Death, heart attack, and stroke

Anti-rejection medication side effects

After a kidney transplant, you’ll take medications to help prevent your body from rejecting the donor’s kidney. These medications can cause a variety of side effects, including:

• Bone thinning and bone damage
• Diabetes
• The excessive hair growth or hair loss
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol

Other side effects may include:

• Increased risk of cancer, particularly skin cancer and lymphoma
• Infection
• Puffiness
• Weight gain
• Acne

How do you prepare your body for a kidney transplant?

1. Stop smoking. Kick the habit at least 4 weeks before your surgery. …
2. Ask your doctor about medicines. You’ll need to avoid drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and blood thinners for a week before your surgery. …
3. Take this time to do the things you enjoy.

If you do decide to have a kidney transplant, you’ll need to work closely with a nephrologist who is associated with an accredited kidney transplant program with good patient outcomes

Kidney transplantation is an excellent choice. Just be sure to work with a team that has enthusiasm and passion, who is involved in active research, and who has an active database to connect you with the right donors.