A study of nutritional status in patients of nephropathy with type-2 diabetes mellitus undergoing hemodialysis.

Abstract

Context: Diabetic nephropathy has become the leading cause of chronic kidney failure and there is a progressive increase in the incidence of End stage renal failure in patients with type-2 Diabetes Mellitus. Their survival is influenced by their nutritional status as they are at increased risk of malnutrition. Aims & Objective: The present study was carried out to access the importance of nutritional status in the study subjects and to use the information for lowering the mortality and morbidity associated with the disease process. Materials & Methods: The study population was divided into normal control group consisting of 40 healthy individuals and a test group consisting of 80 patients who were diagnosed to be having End stage renal disease (Nephropathy Stage-5). The test group was further divided equally into 2 sub-categories Group I, Group II based on those who were undergoing hemodialysis and those who were not undergoing hemodialysis respectively. Nutritional status was assessed by serum albumin, serum protein, serum iron, serum hemoglobin, Body mass Index (BMI) and lean body weight (LBW). Results: There is a significant decrease in levels of serum albumin and serum protein in group-I and group-II (P<0.01) compared to control. Hemoglobin also shows a significant decrease in both the test groups compared to controls but the study did not show any significant difference in level of serum iron in test group-I and II. Difference in LBW in group-I had no significance compared to controls but significance is seen with test group-II (P=.032) when compared to control. Conclusion: Protein energy malnutrition and anemia are common findings in hemodialysis patients having history of nephropathy with type-2 diabetes mellitus. With knowledge of the various risk factors which can increase the morbidity and mortality in the Diabetic patients undergoing hemodialysis, we can employ preventive strategies for better management of the patients and thereby improving their survival.