Albuminuria by diabetes mellitus: Marker and motor of diabetic nephropathy and vascular complications

Diabetic nephropathy requires intensive treatment as it is the main reason for the morbidity and mortality resulting from diabetes mellitus. Patients with diabetic nephropathy have a significantly higher mortality rate due to cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarct or stroke. Microalbuminuria is the earliest clinical sign of diabetic renal disease and is also a marker for increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Thus, its early detection allows not only for effective secondary prevention of the progression of diabetic nephropathy, but is also an indication for the implementation of an individually-tailored cardiovascular risk reduction management program. People with diabetes mellitus are high risk patients who need intensive monitoring and intensive supportive therapy. © Springer Medizin Verlag 2006.