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Diabetic nephropathy (diabetic kidney disease) is detected during tests related to diabetes. Diabetic nephropathy screening is recommended five years after diagnosis for people with type 1 diabetes, while screening begins immediately for those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Routine screening tests for diagnosis include:
Urine albumin test: The kidneys do not filter albumin. This test detects albumin, a blood protein, in the urine. The presence of excessive protein in the urine ( >300 mg in a 24-hour urine sample) indicates impaired kidney function.
Albumin/creatinine ratio test: Creatinine is a waste product filtered from the blood by healthy kidneys. The albumin/creatinine ratio (urine albumin/creatinine ≥30 mg/g) provides information about kidney function.
Glomerular filtration rate (GFR): A creatinine measurement in a blood sample can be used to estimate how quickly the kidneys filter blood. A low filtration rate indicates poor kidney function.
A diagnosis is made if two or more of these three tests show persistent albuminuria (>300 mg in a 24-hour urine sample or albumin/creatinine ≥30 mg/g in a spot urine sample) within a three-month period.
In addition to laboratory tests, the specialist physician may also utilize imaging techniques such as X-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography, and MRI to assess the condition of the kidneys.
How is diabetic nephropathy diagnosed?
Urine albumin test: The kidneys do not filter albumin. This test detects albumin, a blood protein, in the urine. The presence of excessive protein in the urine ( >300 mg in a 24-hour urine sample) indicates impaired kidney function.
Albumin/creatinine ratio test: Creatinine is a waste product filtered from the blood by healthy kidneys. The albumin/creatinine ratio (urine albumin/creatinine ≥30 mg/g) provides information about kidney function.
Glomerular filtration rate (GFR): A creatinine measurement in a blood sample can be used to estimate how quickly the kidneys filter blood. A low filtration rate indicates poor kidney function.
A diagnosis is made if two or more of these three tests show persistent albuminuria (>300 mg in a 24-hour urine sample or albumin/creatinine ≥30 mg/g in a spot urine sample) within a three-month period.
In addition to laboratory tests, the specialist physician may also utilize imaging techniques such as X-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography, and MRI to assess the condition of the kidneys.