Diabetes

Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetes-related nephropathy is a condition that affects your kidneys. Another name for diabetes-related nephropathy is diabetes-related kidney disease (DKD). Your kidneys filter waste from your body. Common waste products include nitrogen waste products such as urea, muscle waste (creatinine) and many other toxins. Your kidneys also help balance your body’s fluids and electrolytes. Each kidney contains more than a million nephrons, which help filter your blood and keep all of this in balance.

Each nephron contains groups of tiny blood vessels called glomeruli (glo-mare-yoo-lye). Glomeruli perform the first step in filtering your blood. Glomeruli have semi-permeable membranes. These semi-permeable membranes allow water and soluble wastes to pass through, which eventually leave your body in your urine (pee). Diabetes causes diabetes-related nephropathy. If you have diabetes, your body can’t properly process the blood sugar (glucose) from the foods and drinks you consume. Extra glucose in your bloodstream may damage the glomerular membranes as well as other parts of the nephron.

Damaged glomeruli can’t properly filter fluids. If the glomeruli can’t properly filter fluids, toxins that should leave in your pee accumulate in your blood and body.