The Risk for the Development of Diabetic Nephropathy: Interplay of Biochemical, Genetic, Nutritional and Lifestyle Factors

Abstract

The recent unprecedented pandemic COVID-19 has blatantly exposed the healthcare system globally. The increasing rate of mortality and morbidity/co-morbidity were observed due to an interplay of COVID-19 infection with chronic diseases like diabetes, cancers, CVDs, respiratory and mental illness. According to World Health Organization, diabetes kills 1.7 million people annually. The prevalence and incidence of diabetes mellitus, representing >90% of all cases of diabetes and its complications, are increasing rapidly. The International Diabetes Federation has estimated that the number of people with diabetes is expected to rise from 366 million in 2011 to 552 million by 2030 if no urgent action is taken. Diabetes is a leading cause of kidney disease. About one in three adult diabetic patients has kidney disease, that is, diabetic nephropathy. In search for the risk and causes of diabetes and its complications such as diabetic nephropathy, research has now advanced to the molecular level. Genetics, epigenetics, genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are opening ways to a new and deeper understanding of bodily processes and are providing the tools for more precisely targeted interventions when their function is disturbed. Similarly, tobacco use, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcohol, and unhealthy diets all increase the risk of developing diabetic nephropathy. This chapter will focus on analyzing recently researched and published biochemical, genetic, nutritional, and lifestyle factors in various populations to ascertain the interplay of a wide variety of modifiable and non-modifiable factors, which will help delay and/or prevent the development of kidney disease in diabetes.