Diabetic nephropathy (DBN) – colloquially called diabetic kidney disease – (Latin: nephropathia diabetica; synonyms: diabetes-associated nephropathy, diabetic glomerulonephritis; diabetic glomerulosclerosis; intercapillary glomerulonephritis; Kimmelstiel-Wilson syndrome; Kimmelstiel-Wilson disease; nephropathy, diabetic; ICD-10-GM E14. 20: Unspecified diabetes mellitus with renal complications; not described as derailed) is a secondary disease of diabetes mellitus (diabetes) in which the kidneys are damaged by microangiopathy (vascular changes affecting the small vessels).
Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of terminal renal failure (kidney failure) in industrialized countries.
Sex ratio: Men have a higher risk of developing the disease than women.
Peak incidence: The peak incidence of diabetic nephropathy is between 50 and 70 years of age.
The prevalence (disease frequency) of diabetic nephropathy is about 30% for type 1 diabetics and about 20% for type 2 diabetics – within 15-30 years.
In Germany, the prevalence of microalbuminuria is 17-34 % and diabetic nephropathy between 7-15 % with a mean diabetes duration of 8-19 years.
Course and prognosis: The earlier diabetic nephropathy is detected, the more successful the progression (progression) can be slowed. Effective general measures are renunciation of nicotine and weight reduction (if necessary) as well as normoglycemia (blood sugar values in the normal range), if necessary blood pressure reduction and lipid reduction (reduction of elevated blood fat values).If diabetic nephropathy is not treated, it can lead to terminal kidney failure within a few years. In such cases, renal replacement therapy – dialysis (blood washing) or kidney transplantation – must be performed.
Diabetic nephropathy is virtually always accompanied by diabetic retino- or/and neuropathy (retinal disease and/or peripheral nervous system disease).
