Diabetic nephropathy is the commonest cause of endstage renal disease in the developed world, causing about 50% cases requiring renal replacement therapy. It is the utmost duty of the family physician to save kidney by identifying and modifying of risk factors, prompt diagnosis of DKD with staging and cross tabulation with CKD staging, estimating and predicting the risk of death due to renal failure, appropriate preventive measures and medical management and timely referral to the nephrologist.
Risk Factors: Elevated (systolic) blood pressure particularly during night Microalbuminuria Edema or activation of renin-angiotensin system Proteinuria Smoking Salt intake Obesity/ metabolic syndrome Protein intake Drugs: nephrotoxic medications and NSAIDS Investigations required for the diagnosis of kidney disease: HBA1C: if HBA1c percentage is above 13 then there is definite risk of kidney…
