Week 5: Signs and Symptoms

Hey there! Welcome to week 5 of diabetic nephropathy! So far we have learned a LOT about diabetic nephropathy. We learned about the disease, who is at risk, what types of things put me at risk, and how the diagnosis is made. Whew that is a lot. We are almost experts now :)

This week we are going to be addressing signs and symptoms you might see if you are developing diabetic nephropathy. First off lets address what signs and symptoms are... A sign is something that is objective. Examples are: redness of the skin, vomiting, or blood in the urine. A symptom is something that is objective. This includes topics like pain, itching, and nausea. Most of the things that you are feeling are symptoms and the things that you can see are signs. Got it?

These are examples of symptoms...

This is an example of a sign....

YUCK!! I hope this doesn't happen to you! So back to diabetic nephropathy...

Symptoms of Diabetic Nephropathy include...

Early on there are no symptoms! However, later on in the disease you can see

• Swelling, usually around the eyes and/ or legs 
• Poor appetite 
• Nausea and vomiting 
• General sick feeling 
• Fatigue or tiredness 
• Headache
• Frequent hiccups 

Signs of Diabetic Nephropathy include...

Most of the signs are performed in the laboratory. The things the lab is looking for are 

• Positive microalbuminaria- too much protein in the urine 
• Glucose in the urine 
• Increased creatinine and BUN levels- kidney function markers. Having increased creatinine and BUN means the kidney function is decreasing. 
• Kidney biopsy confirms the diagnosis but is not likely performed 

Okay guys- see you next week for more lessons on the kidney and diabetic nephropathy! Again, let me know if you have any questions you want me to answer. I would love to help! 

References

American Diabetes Association: Position statement: Diabetic nephropathy. Diabetes Care 22 (Suppl 1):S66-69, 1999.

Evans, Timothy; Campbell, Peter. Clinical Diabetes: Diabetic Nephropathy. 18:1, 2008. 

Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, and Bucher. Medical-Surgical Nursing: Assessment and management of Clinical Problems. 9th edition. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier; 2014.