Why does the diabetic nephropathy need to limit the mineral salt intake

Diabetic nephropathy, or diabetic kidney disease, refers to the kidney damage caused by long term high blood sugar. And there are many limitations for diabetic nephropathy patients with their daily diet when they have this disease. So patients need to make a well planed diet which can reduce their kidney burden and protect their kidneys. Then why does the diabetic nephropathy patients need to limit the mineral salt intake?

It’s known that kidney, one of the most important organs of the body, generates urine, excretes metabolic products and toxin as well as recycles the substances good for the body. Besides, it also regulates the metabolism of the water and mineral salts and maintains the balance of the water, electrolytes and acid and alkali in the body. When the kidney is diseased, it leads to the electrolytes metabolic disturbance and acidosis because of the decreasing renal function above mentioned. With the reducing of the GFR level, the phosphorus in the urine expels less than before, causing hyperphosphatemia that makes the mineral salts build up in all the organs such as kidney of the body, resulting in soft tissue calcification on one side; injures the bones, blood vessels and blood producing system on the other side. So there is closely relation between the diabetic nephropathy and mineral salt.

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How does the patient with diabetic nephropathy control the mineral salt from the diet?

I. Excess sodium salt intake can speed up the deterioration of the kidney disease caused by diabetes. But appropriate sodium salt intake can support the heart and kidney performing. Low salt and sodium or no salt intake from the diet is suggested in accordance with the patients’ specific conditions including the urinary output and edema and so on.

II. The diabetic nephropathy patients are suggested to less use or avoid drugs or food high in magnesium. The appropriate magnesium intake helps to slow the progression of the disorder and reduce the complications.

III. The renal function of the diabetic nephropathy is damaged, resulting in the increase of the serium inorganic phosphorus level and then the hypocalcemia. And the hyperphosphatemia can be alleviated through the control of the protein intake.

IV. The sodium and potassium salt intake is suggested to reduce while the urinary output becomes less. And the patient with hyperkalemia can decrease the level of the serum potassium by avoiding the use of potassium –rich foods


How much mineral salt intake is better for your health? What kinds of foods is benefit to slowing the progression of your disorder? In fact, how much salt should diabetic nephropathy take should depend on their own illness condition since their specific illness condition will be different from case to case. You can send your recent test reports to chinakidneyhosptial@gmail.com, we can help analyze and give you more suggestions for you.