Diabetes remains one of the leading causes of kidney failure around the world. In 2045, 1 in 8 adults, or 783 million people, will have diabetes, according to IDF projections.
For many people with diabetes, kidney disease, known as diabetic nephropathy (DN), gradually worsens and can lead to complete kidney failure, a condition called end-stage renal disease (ESRD). A study by researchers at SESAME reveals new ways to understand how this happens and offers hope for better diagnosis and treatment in the future.
The research team used an advanced technology called synchrotron-Fourier-transform infrared (SR-FTIR) microspectroscopy to examine blood samples from patients at different stages of diabetic kidney disease. They compared these patients with individuals who had type 2 diabetes but had no kidney damage. What they found could change the way we detect and treat diabetic kidney disease.
“Using SR-FTIR, we were able to find big changes in the protein and lipid molecules in these patients' blood, which showed that their overall health, especially kidney function, had changed,” said Dr. Refat Nimer, who led the study. This advanced method allowed the researchers to look at changes in the body’s cells on a very detailed level, revealing important signs of kidney damage that happen as diabetes progresses.
A study reveals that patients with advanced diabetic kidney disease (ESRD) show high levels of oxidation in their blood, causing damage to cells. This oxidation, a major contributor to kidney damage, is more noticeable in the advanced stages of the disease, highlighting the severity of the condition.
In addition, the study found that patients with the most severe kidney damage had low levels of albumin, a key protein in the blood. This condition, called hypoalbuminemia, is common in kidney disease and signals the progression from mild kidney problems to more severe failure. “Seeing this drop in albumin levels is a clear sign of kidney function worsening,” said Dr. Gihan Kamel, co-author of the paper.
What makes this study especially important is the potential for earlier detection of diabetic nephropathy. Right now, it’s hard to detect kidney problems in the early stages of the disease, which can delay treatment. But the SR-FTIR microspectroscopy method used in this study can detect small changes in the blood that indicate the beginning of kidney damage.
“This technology could enable more personalized treatment for diabetic kidney disease,” Refat Nimer. “Understanding these molecular changes earlier in the disease process could help doctors intervene before the kidneys become seriously damaged, improving patients' quality of life and their chances of better health outcomes.”
With diabetes rates rising around the world, especially among older adults, this research offers hope that diabetic kidney disease can be better understood, identified, and treated earlier. The findings from this study suggest that with continued research, we may be able to manage diabetic nephropathy in new ways, preventing further harm to kidney function and giving patients a better chance at long-term health.
Dr. Miller added, “It’s not just about diagnosing the disease; it’s about catching it early, before it has irreversible consequences.” With this new approach, doctors may soon be able to do just that, providing hope for millions of people living with diabetes.