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The diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (diabetic kidney disease) is established through routine screening tests performed during diabetes management. For individuals diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, screening for diabetic nephropathy is recommended to begin five years after diagnosis, while for patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, these screenings should be initiated immediately upon diagnosis. The primary routine screening tests used for diagnosis are as follows:
Urine Albumin Test: Normally, the kidneys do not filter albumin. The presence of a high amount of albumin in the urine (> 300 mg in 24-hour urine) indicates impaired kidney function.
Albumin/Creatinine Ratio Test (ACR): Creatinine is a waste product filtered from the blood by healthy kidneys. A high albumin/creatinine ratio in the urine (≥ 30 mg/g) provides important information about kidney function.
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR): Measurement of blood creatinine levels is used to estimate how quickly the kidneys filter the blood. Low GFR values indicate insufficient kidney function.
The diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy is made if persistent albuminuria (> 300 mg in 24-hour urine or a spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio ≥ 30 mg/g) is detected in two or more of these three tests conducted over a three-month period.
In addition to laboratory tests, the specialist physician may also utilize imaging techniques such as ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the structural condition of the kidneys.
How is diabetic nephropathy diagnosed?
Urine Albumin Test: Normally, the kidneys do not filter albumin. The presence of a high amount of albumin in the urine (> 300 mg in 24-hour urine) indicates impaired kidney function.
Albumin/Creatinine Ratio Test (ACR): Creatinine is a waste product filtered from the blood by healthy kidneys. A high albumin/creatinine ratio in the urine (≥ 30 mg/g) provides important information about kidney function.
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR): Measurement of blood creatinine levels is used to estimate how quickly the kidneys filter the blood. Low GFR values indicate insufficient kidney function.
The diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy is made if persistent albuminuria (> 300 mg in 24-hour urine or a spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio ≥ 30 mg/g) is detected in two or more of these three tests conducted over a three-month period.
In addition to laboratory tests, the specialist physician may also utilize imaging techniques such as ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the structural condition of the kidneys.