Diabetic Nephropathy in Children

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Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body is not able to manage the absorption of blood sugar. Children with diabetes often have high blood sugar and high blood pressure, which over time can damage the kidneys, leaving them unable to filter the blood properly.

Diabetic kidney disease develops slowly and quietly. Kidney damage resulting from diabetes is called diabetic nephropathy. Although rare, it can be a serious condition.

Symptoms of Diabetic Kidney Disease in Children

Signs of diabetic nephropathy include:

Diagnosis and Treatment of Diabetes-Related Kidney Damage

To diagnose diabetic nephropathy, your child’s doctor will take a urine test to check for protein and may collect urine samples during a 24-hour period to look for a protein called albumin, which increases when kidney disease worsens.

It is possible to slow or prevent kidney damage through;

  • Excellent blood sugar control
  • Taking medication as prescribed
  • Maintaining good blood pressure

Left untreated, diabetic nephropathy can progress to kidney failure, which would require dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Patient Stories

  • We had the most wonderful experience with all of the doctors and nurses at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, especially Dr. Roberti, transplant surgeons Dr. Geffner and Dr. Sun, and Dr. Roberti’s wonderful nurses Josie and Nancy.

    Kaitlin
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Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
94 Old Short Hills Road
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-5000
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Children's Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
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The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at RWJUH
200 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
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The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center
300 2nd Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 923-7250
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Nephrology – Pediatric Treatment & Care

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