Evaluation of Albuminuria, Total Plasma Proteins, and Serum Albumin in Diabetics

Abstract

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is fast becoming one of the biggest epidemics of this century. According to World Health Organization, there are 194 million diabetics world-wide (4% of the population) and the figure may reach 300 million by the year 2025. Diabetic nephropathy is one of the serious chronic microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus presents in its earliest stage with low levels of albumin (microalbuminuria) in the urine. The objective of this study was to evaluate albuminuria, total plasma proteins and serum albumin in diabetics.

Material & Methods: This study comprised of 105 subjects, 35 type 1 diabetics, 35 type 2 diabetics & 35 were healthy non-diabetic controls. The urinary albumin excretion rate, total plasma proteins, and serum albumin were determined in all the three groups.

Results: The Urinary Albumin Excretion Rate per 24 hours, Total plasma proteins, and Serum albumin of type 1 and type 2 diabetics were compared with urinary albumin excretion rate per 24 hrs, total plasma proteins, and serum albumin of control group in three separate tables. The Urinary Albumin Excretion Rate per 24 hours was 181.06mg in type 1 diabetics, 182.67mg in type 2 diabetics, and 11.34mg in controls. Total plasma proteins was 77.98 g/l was in type 1 diabetics, 76.86 g/l in type 2 diabetics, and 72.46 g/l in controls. Serum albumin was 41.34 g/l in type 1 diabetics, 41.82 g/l in type 2 diabetics, and 43.17 g/l in controls.

Conclusion: In type 1 and type 2 diabetics the total plasma proteins and urinary albumin excretion rate are significantly increased, while serum albumin is decreased.