Can diabetic nephropathy undergo kidney transplantation?

Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
Updated on September 28, 2024
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Diabetic nephropathy has now become the leading cause of uremia in China, accounting for the largest proportion. In the 1980s and 1990s, chronic nephritis was the most common cause of uremia in China. Over the past decade, diabetic nephropathy has gradually surpassed chronic nephritis and become the leading condition. This condition requires dialysis or a kidney transplant when it progresses to uremia. Patients with diabetic nephropathy in a uremic state can undergo a kidney transplant. After the transplant, these patients still need to use medications to control their blood sugar and blood pressure, to prevent high blood sugar and high blood pressure from further damaging the new kidney. Of course, if conditions allow, performing a combined kidney and pancreas transplant might yield better results.

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Written by Pan Wu Shan
Nephrology
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Can people with diabetic nephropathy drink alcohol?

Diabetic nephropathy, as the name suggests, is a complication caused by diabetes that leads to kidney problems. The typical symptoms of diabetic nephropathy are significant proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia. Generally speaking, there is no particularly effective treatment for diabetic nephropathy; it can only be managed by keeping blood sugar and blood pressure under control. For patients with diabetic nephropathy, it is recommended to keep fasting blood glucose below 7, and postprandial glucose should be controlled between 8 and 10, which is considered appropriate. If hypertension is present, blood pressure should be kept below 140/80 mmHg. In terms of diet, patients with diabetic nephropathy definitely should not drink alcohol, and they should avoid sweets, fried foods, and foods high in starch. It is also important not to stay up late.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Early signs of diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is caused by long-term diabetes leading to damage in the small blood vessels. Generally, patients have a history of diabetes for over ten years. Diabetic nephropathy progresses through several stages. In the early stages, patients primarily exhibit microalbuminuria. Due to the presence of protein in the urine, patients may experience increased urine foam, especially noticeable with morning urination. Some patients may develop swelling in the lower limbs and around the eyelids. As the condition progresses, the amount of urine protein increases and the swelling becomes more pronounced, potentially reaching the level of nephrotic syndrome.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Is diabetic nephropathy with facial swelling serious?

Patients with diabetic nephropathy who experience facial swelling should not use this symptom as a basis for judging the severity of their condition. Diabetic nephropathy is divided into five stages. The condition is relatively mild during the first three stages. By the fourth stage, patients begin to exhibit significant proteinuria, and by the fifth stage, they experience severe renal failure. Conditions in these last two stages are quite severe. However, patients might also experience facial swelling during the first three stages, and while the likelihood of facial swelling increases during the fourth and fifth stages, some patients in these stages might not show obvious edema. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the severity of the condition based solely on swelling. Patients need to undergo 24-hour urinary protein quantification and blood tests to assess kidney function in order to judge the severity of their condition.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Treatment of Anemia in Diabetic Nephropathy

Compared to primary chronic nephritis, patients with diabetic nephropathy develop anemia earlier and more severely. The treatment for this type of anemia is divided into two aspects. Firstly, since it is anemia caused by renal lesions leading to a lack of erythropoietin, it is necessary to supplement erythropoietin, as well as iron and folic acid, which are raw materials for blood production, for the anemia caused by diabetic nephropathy. Additionally, patients with diabetic nephropathy are prone to malnutrition and should enhance nutritional support, especially by increasing the intake of high-quality animal protein.

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Written by Zhou Qi
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How to supplement for anemia in diabetic nephropathy?

Patients with diabetic nephropathy who exhibit anemia are often in a state of chronic renal failure. This anemia caused by chronic kidney disease is mainly due to the decreased secretion of erythropoietin by the kidneys. Therefore, treatment involves the use of erythropoietin to stimulate bone marrow hematopoiesis. In addition to this medication, patients generally also need to supplement with iron preparations, such as ferrous succinate, sucrose iron, etc., and take oral folic acid, all of which are raw materials for blood formation. Furthermore, if patients have severe malnutrition, they should also supplement with foods rich in protein, such as eggs, milk, chicken, duck, fish, etc. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)