[The kidney in diabetes mellitus--new aspects on pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy].

The knowledge about the pathogenesis of the diabetic nephropathy has significantly increased during the last years. The diabetic nephropathy is one of the best treatable renal disease due to the treatment strategies derived from this knowledge and the new emerging therapeutic perspectives. However, it is a prerequisite that the treatment is started early in the course of the disease. The onset of microalbuminuria is currently the known indication for the development of a nephropathy in a patient with diabetes. Additional to the intensified insulin treatment, the application of an ACE-inhibitor should be taken into account when microalbuminuria occurs.