Diabetic renal disease in Pima Indians

Diabetic renal disease is a major source of morbidity and mortality in Pima Indians. Excess mortality in NIDDM occurs principally in those with proteinuria regardless of whether death is due to cardiovascular or renal disease. Diabetes duration is a strong predictor of diabetic renal disease. Additional predictors include blood pressure, severity of diabetes, and, most likely, genetic or shared environmental determinants. The incidence rate of diabetic renal disease in Pima Indians with NIDDM is similar to that reported for subjects with IDDM with equivalent durations of diabetes. These observations suggest that clinical proteinuria and renal failure may occur in patients with NIDDM just as frequently as in those with IDDM. This finding has important implications and suggests that the variations in the frequency and age of onset of NIDDM among different populations and ethnic groups may be primarily responsible for the apparent variations in the frequency of ESRD associated with diabetes in different populations. Furthermore, diabetic renal disease appears to account for virtually all of the excess mortality associated with diabetes among Pima Indians and may perhaps do so in other populations. Improved survival of persons with NIDDM, an increasing incidence of this disease, and a relatively early age of onset in many populations could lead to a dramatic increase in the incidence of ESRD in the future. On the other hand, if diabetic renal disease and its consequences could be prevented, a profound improvement in the longevity and quality of life of those afflicted with diabetes might be possible.