Exercise induced proteinuria as an early indicator of diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is a life threatening microvascular complication of diabetes characterized by presence of proteinuria and progressive impairment of renal function. This study was carried out on 25 patients of diabetes mellitus and 25 healthy individuals who served as controls. All the persons were asked to perform certain programmed amount of exercise and protein excretion rates were measured in urine collected over following three periods: just before exercise, just after exercise and one hour post exercise. It was observed that basal urinary protein excretion rate as well as exercise induced urinary protein levels were significantly higher in diabetics than in control (p < 0.001). Values were significantly higher in uncontrolled diabetes as compared to those with good metabolic control. Urinary protein values were also related to the duration of diabetes. Higher values were observed in patients having diabetes of more than 5 years as compared to those with less than 5 years duration. This test is good and easy to perform for early detection and management of diabetic nephropathy which is essential to reduce long term morbidity and mortality in diabetics.