Risk factors and management of diabetic nephropathy

To determine the risk factors for nephropathy in diabetic patients and to study the management of diabetic nephropathy (DN), we conducted a hospital-based prospective study in the Internal Medicine department of our hospital on 60 patients with DN and 60 diabetic patients without DN. An odds ratio (OR) disclosed the following risk factors: Hypertension (OR = 2.06), family history of diabetes (OR = 1.23), family history of DN (OR = 2.86), uncontrolled hyperglycemia (OR = 11.80), obesity (OR = 1.07), duration of diabetes between 11 and 20 years (OR = 4.69), smoking (OR = 2.79), alcohol consumption (OR = 3.75), other complications (OR = 2.03), lack of physical activity (OR = 1.51) and anemia (OR = 2.29). According to these risk factors, we suggest that improving patient's knowledge on diabetes and its treatment, life style modifications and aggressive management of the disease may delay the progression of disease to advanced stages.