[Care of patients with diabetic nephropathy]

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the main causes of chronic renal failure in developed countries. The genesis and development of diabetic nephropathy is associated in both types of diabetes with a more rapid progression of other secondary complications and an increased mortality, in particular cardiovascular mortality. The main causes of development of diabetic nephropathy are prolonged hyperglycaemia along with a so far not elucidated inborn disposition. The course of diabetic nephropathy is characterized more clearly in type 1 diabetes. The clinically manifest stage is already irreversible and in the course of years it develops into chronic renal failure. Preventive and curative measures include maintenance of optimal metabolic control, systematic control of blood pressure, in particular by ACE-inhibitors, and a reduction of protein intake. Systematic multidisciplinary collaboration in care for patients with diabetic nephropathy helps to prevent the progression of other secondary complications such as diabetic foot and diabetic retinopathy. At present in the Czech Republic dialysis methods substituting renal function are available to practically all patients with diabetic nephropathy. As regards survival time and quality of life the optimal method of renal function replacement for patients in the terminal stage of diabetic nephropathy is transplantation.