[Protection of renal function in diabetics]

The course of diabetic nephropathy is affected by several factors that can be manipulated. In primary prevention, near normal metabolic control beginning at the time of the diagnosis of diabetes diminishes the risk of microalbuminuria to an extent depending on the HbA1c level attained. Hypertensive diabetics should be consistently treated with renin-angiotensin system (RAS)-blocking agents. In secondary prevention, a multifactorial therapy is able to stop or retard further progression. Its components are a sustained decrease of blood pressure in the normotensive range using RAS-blocking agents (normotensive patients should also be treated) as well as near normal metabolic control that takes into account the changing pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of blood glucose-lowering drugs in renal insufficiency. Consideration of further factors (smoking, protein intake, anemia) and several general nephroprotective measures complete the treatment spectrum. Therapy for dyslipidemia and the administration of aspirin are important in view of the high cardiovascular morbidity. It is essential to monitor kidney function and the therapeutic components at short intervals.