Diabetes in Urban African-Americans: II. High prevalence of microalbuminuria and nephropathy in African-Americans with diabetes

Abstract

Albuminuria can be identified reliably and conveniently by the albumin/creatinine ratio in brief urine collections. In our patients, clinically significant albuminuria occurred in 36% of persons at first presentation. Since increased risk was associated with hypertension and control of hypertension can slow progression of renal disease, screening for albuminuria and treatment of hypertension should be aggressive in urban populations of African-Americans with diabetes.