The Nutritional Status of Diabetic Nephropathy Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis at New Delhi Hospital, India: A Pilot Study

Diabetic nephropathy, one of the complications resulting from uncontrolled diabetes can lead to end stage renal disease (ESRD), which in such diabetics often necessitates dialysis. Dialysis can further have an adverse impact on the nutritional status. Hence, the study sought to assess the nutritional status of diabetic nephropathy patients undergoing haemodialysis. This cross sectional pilot study data was derived from 30 Diabetic nephropathy patients undergoing haemodialysis, aged 40-75 years of either sex. Demographic Questionnaire, 24 hour diet recall, Food Frequency Questionnaire and case records constituted the data collection tools. Dietary intake revealed inadequacies of several food groups except cereal, milk and eggs. Food selection from each group reflected incomplete knowledge, ranging from poor to fair knowledge of relevant nutrients sources. Variable nutrient intake reflected inadequacies of energy, calcium, niacin, folic acid, vitamin A and vitamin C, whereas protein, potassium, phosphorus, thiamine and riboflavin were fairly adequate. Salient findings of the study also revealed anorexia, oliguria and oedema as common symptoms along with several biochemical aberrations.Subjects of diabetic nephropathy had insufficient nutritional intake. Hence nutritional assessment and diet counselling is critical in such patients, so that appropriate diet therapy can be prescribed.