Correlation between diabetic nephropathy and diabetic retinopathy as a long-term complications of diabetes mellitus

A long-term complications of diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background/aim: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder of multiple etiology that is  characterized by lack of insulin, with consequent disorder metabolism of glucose, fats and  proteins. There are a number of complications, such as diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy,  which may develop as a result of a long-term diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine a correlation between diabetic nephropathy and diabetic retinopathy as a long term complications of diabetes mellitus.

Materials and methods: Retrospective, descriptive and analytical research at the Department

of Endocrinology, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo was conducted. The study included  158 subjects hospitalized in time between 1st of January and 31st of December 2012.

Results: New-onset diabetics was found in 38%, and diabetes type 2 patients 132 (83,5%),  female 105 (66,5%) while older than 60 years were 100 (63,3%). On discharge from hospital 83,7% of patients were discharged with glycemia <10 mmol / l. We found that 47,5% of patients had HbA1c> 10%. Reduced kidney function, different degrees of failure was at 66,5%. More than half (62,7%) patients had proteinuria as a sign of diabetic nephropathy. Diabetic retinopathy was diagnosed with different types in 54,4%.

Conclusion: The duration of diabetes leads to an increase in nitrogen compounds and the development of diabetic nephropathy manifest forms of various degrees of renal insufficiency. Duration of diabetes and the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy are significantly interrelated. Correlation of the degrees of renal failure with changes in ocular fundus has not been proven, but more severe renal insufficiency have frequent presence of diabetic retinopathy compared to patients with less impaired renal function.