Diabetic nephropathy: prevalence, pathogenesis and signalling pathways

One of the main causes of death and morbidity in people with diabetes mellitus is diabetic nephropathy (DN). Diabetes and DN have a complicated pathophysiology that includes the connection between metabolic and hemodynamic pathways, oxidative stress, development of cytokines and growth factors, eventually resulting in renal impairment. Three key lesions, viz. diffuse mesangial enlargement, thickened glomerular basement membrane, and arteriole hyalinosis, represent the pathological hallmarks of the illness. The mesangial cells, glomerular capillary membrane, tubulo-interstitium and vasculature as well as other functional structures are all dysfunctional in the pathogenesis. In low- to middle-income countries, the prevalence of diabetic kidney disease is gradually rising but irregularly. Also, it is underappreciated as a major global health concern. DN is caused by a number of anomalies in the signalling pathways. This article aims to clarify the nature of DN risk factors, prevalence, phases, aetio­logy and signal transduction pathways