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| Coping With Diabetic Nephropathy | Treatment options
Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetic nephropathy (kidney failure). Treatment must become more intensive as the kidneys come closer towards failure. It includes the following medical options:
- Prevention
Prevention is the best form of treatment which includes precisely controlling blood glucose levels and blood pressure.
- Medications
The list of medications includes medications which are able to reduce high blood pressure, particularly angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers to curb kidney damage.
- Dialysis (artificial kidney treatment)
Dialysis involves either shunting the patient’s blood through a special machine (haemodialysis) that helps remove the wastes while preserving water and salts, or removing wastes through fluid introduced into the abdomen (peritoneal dialysis). This procedure is required several times every week for the rest of the person’s life.
- Kidney transplant
A healthy donor kidney, received either from someone who has died or from a relative or friend, replaces the function of the diseased kidneys.
Reduce the Risk
A person with diabetes can reduce their risk of diabetic nephropathy, or at least delay its onset, performing the following actions:
- Control blood sugar levels.
- Control blood pressure.
- Avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
- Treat urinary tract infections promptly with antibiotics.
- Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids, preferably water.
- Avoid medical treatments that stress the kidneys, such as x-rays requiring the injection of contrast dyes.
- Have regular tests to ensure the health of your kidneys.
Remember
- The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes mellitus, a condition characterised by high blood glucose levels.
- With time, the high levels of sugar in the blood damage the millions of tiny filtering units within each kidney.
- There is no cure, and treatment must become ever more intensive as the kidneys deteriorate towards failure.
- Treatment options include medications, dialysis and kidney transplant.
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