An Overview of Diabetic Nephropathy

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy is a complication of type 1 and type diabetes mellitus and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the United States. The health care system spends billions of dollars every year to treat end-stage renal disease patients. Health care providers must address diabetic nephropathy. The American Diabetes Association set forth recommendations for early detection to slow the progression of renal disease and treatment guidelines for patients with diabetes along with hypertension and diabetic nephropathy. Routine screening and treatment are the key to ending the trend of patients with diabetic nephropathy progressing to end-stage renal disease. Glycemic and blood pressure control is important for managing diabetic nephropathy. Angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers have become drugs of choice for treating diabetic nephropathy, based on clinical studies showing they slow the progression of renal disease. Whether protein restrictions are necessary in patients with diabetic nephropathy is being debated.