Abstract
Diabetes is accompanied by serious complications that significantly impair quality of life, one of which is diabetic nephropathy (DN) – a specific kidney disorder leading to glomerulosclerosis. The diabetes epidemic has made DN the primary cause of end-stage renal failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of diabetic nephropathy among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in an urban outpatient clinic in Aktobe, Kazakhstan, and to determine the relationship between nephropathy and various demographic and clinical factors. The study included 168 patients with T2DM, randomly selected from clinic visitors. The average age of participants was 59.5 years, the average duration of diabetes was 8.7 years, and the average level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was 9.36%. Proteinuria was detected in 7.7% of patients, while the average glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 86.73 ml/min/1.73 m². In addition, hypertension was highly prevalent, affecting 84.5% of participants. Patients with higher HbA1c were morel to exhibit proteinuria, underscoring the critical role of glycemic control in preventing kidney damage. A significant positive correlation was found between diabetes duration, patient age, and nephropathy, showing that longer diabetes duration and older age increase the risk of DN. The high prevalence of hypertension among the study population highlights its role as a potential exacerbating factor for kidney damage. The findings of the study confirm the need for early detection and active treatment of diabetic nephropathy to reduce the risk of its progression and improve the quality of life of patients. Early detection and management of diabetic nephropathy are essential. Improved glycemic and blood pressure control can reduce complications, prevent renal failure, and improve quality of life in T2DM patients.