Kidney damage from diabetes

Hyperbaric medicine is a rapidly developing field that shows promising results in the treatment of various medical conditions, including nephropathy. Nephropathy, also known as kidney disease, is a condition that affects millions of people around the world.

30-40% of all diabetics will develop diabetic nephropathy during their lifetime – one of the most serious later complications associated with diabetes. Diabetic nephropathy is a disease, the direct cause of which is diabetes mellitus. It occurs in about 1/3 of diabetics after 10 years of type 1 diabetes and in about 35-40% of type 2 diabetics. The disease is manifested by changes in the small vessels of the renal joints (glomeruli). The consequence is reduced vascular patency and ability of the kidneys to purify the blood. The disease is painless, first manifested by a reduced volume of purified blood (glomerular filtration), or by the fact that the kidneys release albumin (the smallest protein) into the blood, and later all proteins. The disease progresses slowly in the form of less and less blood being cleared and more and more protein being released – until complete kidney failure occurs. At this stage, the process is irreversible. The patient is dependent on an artificial kidney (haemodialysis) and receiving a kidney from a donor – transplant. Timely diagnosis and proper treatment of diabetes significantly improves and prolongs the life of every patient affected by this modern disease.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. This therapy has been shown to have a positive effect on the health of patients with nephropathy. HBOT works by increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood, which helps improve circulation and reduces inflammation in the kidneys.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THE FOLLOWING BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF HBO FOR PATIENTS WITH DIABETES:

HBO’S ROLE IN IMPROVING BLOOD CHEMISTRY PROFILE

• Fasting sugar level
• Haemoglobin HbA 1C
• Lipid profiles

ADVANCED GLYCAEMIC CONTROL WITH HBO

• Increases the number of islets of Langerhans of the pancreas
• Improves insulin sensitivity
• Increases glucose uptake in skeletal muscle

Studies have shown that hyperbaric therapy can improve kidney function, reduce the need for dialysis, and even help prevent kidney failure in some patients with nephropathy. It has also been shown that hyperbaric therapy has a positive effect on other conditions that often accompany nephropathy, for example - diabetes and high blood pressure.

In short, hyperbaric medicine is a dynamically developing field that offers hope for patients with nephropathy and other health problems. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has shown promising results in the treatment of nephropathy by improving renal function, reducing the need for dialysis and preventing renal failure. With ongoing research and advances in technology, the potential benefits of hyperbaric medicine are enormous.
In order for the treatment of complications of diabetes to be successful, it is necessary for there to be:

• Close cooperation with specialists (diabetologist, nephrologist, neurologist, ophthalmologist, otorhinolaryngologist, pedologist)
• Diabetes compensation and patient cooperation
• Maintaining sugar levels – a healthy lifestyle and diet