Signs and Symptoms

Last week we discussed that diabetic nephropathy is diagnosed by testing albumin levels in urine. Today we’ll discuss the signs and symptoms someone might have that would prompt them to seek medical intervention or that might evoke concern. A lot of the symptoms associated with diabetic nephropathy may not be obvious until the disease progresses to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or kidney disease. Therefore, it is important to screen diabetic patients according to recommendations, either at diagnosis for type 2 diabetes or yearly 5 years after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.

In the early stages of diabetic nephropathy, there are usually no symptoms. When symptoms do appear they may indicate further progressed kidney disease. Some of the most frequent symptoms are fatigue, general feeling of being unwell, loss of appetite, headache, itchy/dry skin, nausea or vomiting, and swelling of arms and legs.

Diabetic nephropathy is very common, does not present with symptoms until late and it should be considered a possibility in all diabetic patients.

Although not specific to diabetic nephropathy, the graphic below summarizes some signs and symptoms that may be evident as diabetic nephropathy progresses to kidney disease. 

Butt, S., Hall, P., & Nurko, S. (2010). Diabetic Nephropathy. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 

from http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/nephrology/diabetic-nephropathy/Default.htm

Gross, J.L., Azevedo, Silveiro, Canani, Caramori, Zelmanovitz. (January 2005). Diabetic Nephropathy: Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment. Diabetes Care, 28 (1) doi:10.2337/diacare.28.1.164