Pathophysiology of renal and vascular disorders in insulin-dependent diabetes

Roughly one-third of insulin-dependent diabetics develop kidney disease, which increases the aggregate morbidity and mortality of this population. Many of the changes involved in diabetic nephropathy are also connected to cardiovascular disease. We examined the effects of the Na+/Li+ counter-transport and Na+/H+ antiport systems and the utility of monitoring these systems so as to detect the risk of microalbuminuria and the attendant nephropathy early. This would enable the possibility of preventive intervention and a potentially concomitant lowering of morbidity and mortality.