Diabetic nephropathy is a microvascular complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, which causes progressive chronic kidney disease often leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and premature death from cardiovascular disease. About 20% to 40% of patients with diabetes may develop microalbuminuria, and a significant portion of those go on to develop overt nephropathy. Patients with nephropathy have a much higher rate of cardiovascular events than those without nephropathy. Thus, renal involvement is a pivotal development in diabetes, signifying a high risk, not only of end-stage renal failure, but also, and of equal importance, of vascular complications.
