[Diabetic nephropathy]

Diabetic nephropathy is a common complication in diabetes mellitus. In addition to the risk of renal failure, patients with established nephropathy are at increased risk of proliferative retinopathy and cardiovascular disease. As the earliest prodrome of nephropathy is microalbuminuria, albumin excretion needs to be monitored with a reliable method in all diabetics. In the event of microalbuminuria, diabetes treatment needs to be intensified to optimise metabolic regulation. Early institution of antihypertensive treatment is essential to avoid progression to clinical nephropathy.