India, Nov. 14 -- Diabetes is a silent architect of chronic illness, believes Dr Navinath Mohan, senior consultant nephrologist and renal transplant physician at AINU, Chennai. In its early stages, elevated blood glucose causes no outward pain or distress. However, microvascular damage progresses silently.

Interacting with HT Lifestyle on World Diabetes Day, which is observed every year on November 14, Dr Mohan shared that by the time noticeable symptoms like pedal oedema, foamy urine, or declining appetite appear, diabetic kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy) is often in its advanced stage.

Dr Mohan explained that the kidneys contain millions of microscopic capillary filters called nephrons.

"Chronic hyperglycemia stiffens and scars ...