A 45-year-old man is being seen because he has been experiencing vision changes, a burning sensation in his feet, and decreasing amounts of urine when he uses the bathroom. He has a long-standing history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Your physical exam reveals retinal hemorrhages in both eyes and decreased sensation to moderate touch in the soles of his feet. A spot urinalysis shows microalbuminuria and a stat Basic Metabolic Profile (BMP) shows decreased Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR). Required:
Describe the pathophysiologic processes related to your diagnosis that explain the signs/symptoms, and lab results obtained.