Diabetes mellitus and the kidney in adolescents.

Diabetic nephropathy continues to be a major complication of both types I and II diabetes; renal disease in the two types of diabetes exhibits no major differences with regard to initiation, progression, or treatment. The increasing prevalence of type II diabetes among adolescents means that understanding diabetic nephropathy and its prevention and treatment strategies is increasingly important for physicians caring for this population. The most important prevention and treatment modalities for diabetic nephropathy are improved glycemic control and aggressive blood pressure control, beginning as soon as possible after the diagnosis of diabetes.