A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has diabetes mellitus. Which of the following instructions should the nurse provide to the client to help prevent the development of nephropathy?

A. Limiting protein intake: While some clients with kidney disease may need to moderate protein intake, routine protein restriction is not the primary strategy to prevent diabetic nephropathy. Excessive restriction can lead to malnutrition and is not as effective as controlling underlying risk factors. B. Controlling hypertension: Maintaining blood pressure within the target range is a key intervention to prevent or slow the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Hypertension accelerates kidney damage in diabetes, so controlling blood pressure helps preserve renal function and reduces the risk of complications. C. Decreasing potassium intake: Reducing potassium intake is only necessary for clients who develop hyperkalemia due to kidney impairment. It is not a preventive measure for nephropathy in clients with normal kidney function. Routine potassium restriction is not indicated without lab evidence. D. Voiding every 2 hr: Frequent voiding is not a preventive strategy for nephropathy. While monitoring urine output can help detect changes in kidney function, scheduled voiding does not protect against kidney damage caused by diabetes or hypertension.