Biochemical Assessment of Diabetes Nephropathy in Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus Patient in Ogbomoso

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a major global health concern, and its complication, diabetic nephropathy (DN), remains a leading cause of chronic kidney disease and death worldwide. In Nigeria, the burden of DN is worsened by poor healthcare access, late diagnosis, and limited use of modern diagnostic tools, leaving many cases undetected until advanced stages. Aims: To assess the biochemical markers for early detection of diabetic nephropathy (DN) among newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM) patients in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Study Design: A cross-sectional study design was employed, with data collected from 133 participants (78 diabetic, 36 prediabetics and 19 non-diabetic participants) from both urban and rural areas in Ogbomoso. Biochemical tests were conducted to measure fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum creatinine, cystatin C, and urinary microalbumin levels. Additionally, sociodemographic data were gathered through structured questionnaires, and anthropometric measures like BMI and waist circumference were taken. The study used standard diagnostic criteria to classify the participants and evaluate renal function. Results: Fasting blood glucose (FBG) differed significantly across groups (F = 95.37, p < 0.001), with diabetics showing markedly higher levels. In contrast, renal biomarkers urea (p = 0.618), creatinine (p = 0.972), cystatin C (p = 0.451), microalbuminuria (p = 0.247), and urine glucose (p = 0.142) exhibited no significant inter-group differences, indicating no variation in kidney function markers despite elevated glucose in diabetics. Among newly diagnosed diabetic patients, 39.7% displayed at least one abnormal diabetic nephropathy (DN) marker. Cystatin C emerged as the most accurate early detection biomarker, with 88.2% sensitivity, outperforming microalbuminuria and creatinine. Anthropometric measures, including BMI and waist circumference, were significantly linked to DN risk. Conclusion: The study advocates integrating cystatin C into routine DN screening for newly diagnosed diabetics to enable early intervention and halt progression to severe kidney damage.