Study of Serum urea and Creatinine in Diabetic and non-diabetic patients in in a tertiary teaching hospital

Introduction: Diabetes is on the rise worldwide and India has more number of diabetics with more than 60 million people diagnosed to suffer from the disease in 2013. Approximately 20% to 30% of all diabetics will develop evidence of nephropathy, although a higher percentage of type 1 patients progress to end stage renal disease. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is characterised by macro albuminuria and abnormal renal function as represented by a reduction in glomerular filtration and rise in serum urea and creatinine. Aim & Objectives: The aim of this study was to study the relationship between blood levels of urea and creatinine with blood glucose levels in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects for their utility in diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy and their comparison with glycemic status. Material and Methods: Diabetic and non-diabetic subjects; 100 in each group; attending out- patient department during 15 May to 15 September 2015 were studied. Patients with known kidney disease were excluded. Blood samples were analysed for blood sugar (glucose), serum urea and creatinine to determine presence of kidney disease and hyperglycemia on basis of reference laboratory standards in the institute. Results: Out of 100 diabetes samples, 18 had high urea level whereas 15 had increased creatinine level. In control group of 100 sample, there was no one with high urea value and 2 had high creatinine level. There was statistically significant increase in urea level with increased blood sugar level (p<0.05, 95%CI). Conclusion: Serum urea and creatinine are useful, simple biomarkers as predictor and prognostic tests of renal failure in diabetic patients, despite some limitations.