A client asks the nurse about the role of diabetes in the development of chronic renal failure. What is the nurse's best response?

A. Incorrect. A GFR value of 50 mL/min/1.73m² indicates some level of kidney dysfunction, not normal kidney function.

B. Incorrect. A GFR value of 50 mL/min/1.73m² indicates moderate kidney dysfunction, not mild impairment.

C. Correct. A GFR value of 50 mL/min/1.73m² is considered to represent moderate kidney dysfunction. This level of GFR indicates that the kidneys are not effectively filtering waste and fluids from the blood.

D. Incorrect. While a GFR value of 50 mL/min/1.73m² indicates kidney dysfunction, it does not represent severe kidney damage. Severe kidney dysfunction would have a much lower GFR value.

A. Incorrect. Hyperkalemia, or high potassium levels, can cause muscle weakness and potentially cardiac arrhythmias, but it is not typically associated with difficulty concentrating or irritability.

B. Incorrect. Hyponatremia, or low sodium levels, can cause neurological symptoms such as confusion and headache, but it is not typically associated with muscle cramps.

C. Incorrect. Hypocalcemia, or low calcium levels, can cause muscle cramps and neurological symptoms, but it is not specifically associated with difficulty concentrating and irritability.

D. Correct. Hyperphosphatemia, or high phosphorus levels, is common in chronic renal failure due to impaired kidney function. Elevated phosphorus levels can lead to the binding of calcium, resulting in decreased ionized calcium in the blood. This can cause neuromuscular irritability, difficulty concentrating, and muscle cramps.