Diabetes and Endocrinology

Diabetic nephropathy is related to the diabetic kidney disease. In this the chronic loss of kidney function occurrs in those with diabetes mellitus. Protein loss occurs in the urine due to damage to the glomeruli which may become tremendous, and causes a low serum albumin with resulting generalized body swelling and result in the nephrotic syndrome. For few people, diabetic nephropathy can progress to chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. However, majority of the people with diabetes do not develop kidney disease that progresses to kidney failure.

The main function is to filter waste products and excess water from the bloodstream so that they can be excreted in the form of urine, which is carried out by a system of tubes and blood vessels known as nephrons. Inside the nephrons, there are tiny blood vessels called capillaries and tiny urine-collecting tubes. One of the major structures in the nephron is a group of blood vessels known as the glomerulus, which acts as a filter. Having high blood sugar levels can interfere with the function of the glomerulus. The filtering function of the kidneys doesn’t work properly and proteins start to leak from the blood into the urine.