Exploring Cystatin C as an Early Indicator of End-Stage Diabetic Nephropathy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Background: Diabetes, a prevalent metabolic disorder worldwide, significantly impacts various bodily organs. Type 2 diabetes, in particular, leads to chronic complications affecting the brain, eyes, cardiovascular system, and kidneys. Diabetic nephropathy, characterized by altered glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and increased urinary albumin excretion, represents a progressive kidney dysfunction. This study aimed to explore the association between serum cystatin C levels and diabetic nephropathy as a predictive marker. Methods: In this investigation, a total of 179 patients were categorized into four groups: a diabetic nephropathy group, a nephropathy group, a diabetes group, and a healthy control group. After obtaining informed consent and recording demographic indicators and clinical symptoms, a 5 mL blood sample was collected from each participant to assess the cystatin C levels using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results: The study findings revealed no significant differences in demographic indicators among the groups (P > 0.05). Additionally, the average serum cystatin C level in the diabetes group did not significantly differ from that in the control group (P > 0.05). However, a notable increase was observed in the mean serum cystatin C levels between the healthy group and both the diabetic nephropathy and nephropathy groups (P = 0.001). Conclusion: The study findings indicate that serum cystatin C levels serve as a potential warning and predictive factor for nephropathy in diabetic patients.