How is proteinuria treated?

If you have diabetes, hypertension, or both, the first goal of treatment will be to control your blood glucose and blood pressure. If you have diabetes, you should test your blood glucose often, follow a healthy eating plan, take your medicines, and get plenty of exercise. If you have diabetes and high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe a medicine from a class of drugs called ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB). These drugs have been found to protect kidney function even more than other drugs that provide the same level of blood pressure control. The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes keep their blood pressure below 130/80.

People who have high blood pressure and proteinuria but not diabetes may also benefit from taking an ACE inhibitor or ARB. Their blood pressure should be maintained below 130/80.

In addition to blood glucose and blood pressure control, the National Kidney Foundation recommends restricting dietary salt and protein. Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian to help you follow a healthy eating plan.

source: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/proteinuria/index.htm

Hope Through Research for Proteinuria Patients

In recent years, researchers have learned much about kidney disease. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) sponsors several programs aimed at understanding kidney failure and finding treatments to stop its progression.

NIDDK's Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases (DKUHD) supports basic research into normal kidney function and the diseases that impair normal function at the cellular and molecular levels, including diabetes, high blood pressure, glomerulonephritis, and other diseases marked by proteinuria.

source: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/proteinuria/index.htm

Points to Remember About Proteinuria

• Proteinuria is a condition in which urine contains an abnormal amount of protein.
  
  
• The term albuminuria is also often used because some tests measure this protein specifically and it is the major type of protein in the urine.
  
  
• Proteinuria may be a sign that your kidneys are damaged and that you are at risk for end-stage renal disease.
  
  
• Several health organizations recommend that people be regularly checked for proteinuria so that kidney disease can be detected and treated before it progresses.
  
  
• Groups at risk for proteinuria and kidney failure include African Americans, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, Pacific Islander Americans, people who have diabetes or hypertension, and people who have a family history of kidney disease.
  
  
• You may have proteinuria without noticing any signs or symptoms. Testing is the only way to find out how much protein you have in your urine.
  
  
• If you have diabetes or hypertension, or both, the first goal of treatment will be to control your blood glucose and blood pressure.

source: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/proteinuria/index.htm

For More Information About Proteinuria

American Kidney Fund
6110 Executive Boulevard
Suite 1010
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: 1-800-638-8299
Email: helpline@akfinc.org
Internet: www.akfinc.org

National Kidney Foundation
30 East 33rd Street
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 1-800-622-9010 or (212) 889-2210
Email: info@kidney.org
Internet: www.kidney.org

source: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/proteinuria/index.htm