Risk factors in diabetic nephropathy progression at present

Diabetic nephropathy is becoming an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide as a consequence of increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity. The glomeruli of patients with diabetes are characterized by glomerular hypertrophy, widening of the glomerular basement membrane, mesangial expansion, podocytopenia leading to nodular (Kimmelstiel-Wilson) glomerulosclerosis. Many studies have reported the initiation and progression of incipient nephropathy in type 1 diabetes patients, but only limited data are available in type 2 diabetes patients. The information on the risk factors and conversion rate of normal renal function to proteinuria in type 2 diabetes patients is sparse. In this report, we review risk factors of diabetic nephropathy progression in type 2 diabetes patients (Ref. 50).