Glomerulonephritis Research Paper

Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes Insipidus, and Glomerulonephritis are all diseases that affect the kidneys, along with other organs in the body. All three of these diseases are complicated and cause different signs and symptoms. Although a preliminary urine test can show the possibility of each of these diseases, they must be confirmed by further testing and treated accordingly. In this paper, I will discuss how Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes Insipidus, and Glomerulonephritis are diagnosed and the treatment for each of the diseases.
Diabetes Mellitus can be characterized into two different types, Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. In this less common form of the disease, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that assists glucose from the bloodstream in entering the cells of the body in order to provide energy. Type 2 Diabetes is typically diagnosed in patients who are older, struggle with obesity, have a family history of diabetes, or live a sedentary lifestyle. Type 2 Diabetes is a much more common form of the disease in which the body does not create or use insulin well. In patients with both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, blood glucose

increases to dangerously high levels and can cause damage to the heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves, gums, and teeth.
Both forms of Diabetes Mellitus can be tested using blood tests. The Glycated Hemoglobin or A1C Test reveals the patient’s average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. It tests the percentage of blood sugar that is attached to the hemoglobin in the red blood cells. A patient with an A1C level above 6.5 percent on two separate tests indicates a patient with diabetes. Other tests can also be used should the A1C be inconclusive. Random blood sugar tests with results of 200 mg/dL, fasting blood sugar tests taken after an overnight fast with a result of 126 mg/dL or higher on two separate tests, and an oral glucose tolerance test taken after an overnight fast, consuming a sugary drink, and waiting two hours with a result of 200 mg/dL all indicate that a patient has diabetes.
There are many different treatments for the two different types of Diabetes. Blood sugar monitoring, healthy eating, and physical activity play an important role in both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. There is not a particular diabetes diet, however, foods high in fiber and low in fat, calories, refined carbohydrates, and sugars are imperative when trying to manage diabetes. Insulin therapy is another likely form of treatment when diagnosed with diabetes. Many types of insulin are available and depending on a patient’s needs a physician could prescribe a mixture of insulins to control the body’s blood sugar.
Although Diabetes Insipidus and Diabetes Mellitus have similar names, they are not related.

Diabetes Insipidus is a disease that has to do with how the kidneys handle fluids. It is caused by an overbalance of water in the body. A patient with Diabetes Insipidus has intense and increased thirst, along with excretion of excessive amounts of urine. Diabetes Insipidus can also be characterized into two different forms, Central Diabetes Insipidus or Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus. Central Diabetes Insipidus is caused by a lack of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) while Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus results from the kidneys not responding to ADH. The same tests are used to diagnose each type Diabetes Insipidus however the treatments are

different.
Urinalysis is an initial test used to determine the possibility of a Diabetes Insipidus diagnosis. If urine is less concentrated, more diluted, this could be a sign of Diabetes Insipidus. During a water deprivation test, a patient is asked to stop consuming fluids for a certain amount of time, while a physician records changes in body weight, urine output, and concentration of urine and blood during the time fluids are withheld. Blood levels of ADH are also monitored during this test. An MRI can also be used to obtain images of the brain and record any abnormalities near the pituitary gland which is where ADH is secreted.
Central Diabetes Insipidus is typically treated with a synthetic hormone called desmopressin to counteract the lack of ADH in patients with this disease. Desmopressin is administered as a nasal spray, oral tablets, or by injection. If the disease is caused by an abnormality in the pituitary gland or hypothalamus the abnormality will first be treated and then desmopressin will be administered.
Desmopressin is not an option for treatment of Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus because in this form of the disease a patient’s body does produce ADH, but the kidneys do not respond to the hormone. Typically, a physician will prescribe both a low-salt diet to reduce the amount of urine produced by the kidneys and an increase in water consumption to avoid dehydration. Hydrochlorothiazide may also be prescribed to patients with Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus. Although this medication is actually a diuretic it has been found to have a contradictory effect on patients with Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus by reducing urine output.
Glomerulonephritis is caused by inflammation of the glomeruli in the kidneys. Glomeruli function as filters, removing excess fluid, wastes, and electrolytes from the bloodstream and passing them into the urine.
A routine urinalysis is the first step to diagnosing Glomerulonephritis. Indicators include red blood cells in the urine (hematuria), white blood cells in the urine (indicating infection or inflammation), and increased protein in the urine (proteinuria) indicating nephron damage. Blood tests can also be used by measuring the levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen in the blood. Imaging tests could be performed if a physician believes there is damage to the kidneys. X-rays and CT Scans can provide images of the kidneys that can further be used to visualize what is happening in the patient. A final conclusive step in diagnosing Glomerulonephritis is a kidney biopsy. During the biopsy, a small piece of the kidney tissue is extracted using a special needle. The tissue sample is then examined under a microscope to help determine the cause of the inflammation.
In most cases, Glomerulonephritis is secondary to an underlying condition. Depending on what that underlying cause may be, hypertension, an infection, or an autoimmune disease, for example, treatment may be directed at the underlying cause and therefore clearing up the glomerulonephritis as a result. Kidney dialysis can also help remove the excess fluid and control high blood pressure associated with Glomerulonephritis. Diet is also a contributing factor to Glomerulonephritis. Restricting salt intake, consuming less protein and potassium, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar, and quitting smoking are all steps that can be taken to stop Glomerulonephritis and keeping inflammation at bay.
Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes Insipidus, and Glomerulonephritis are all complex diseases that affect multiple organ systems. Diet and exercise play an important factor in all three diseases, but with the proper diagnosis and treatment, they are all manageable.