[Considerations on the treatment of incipient diabetic nephropathy (lst of 2 parts)].

Diabetic nephropathy is the third cause of renal failure after pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis. Lately, many efforts have been made for the early identification (on the silent stage) of patients with a high risk of developing this disease. On these initial stages, therapeutic attitude has changed very much, emphasizing nowadays the importance of glucose levels control, avoiding maintained conditions of hyperglycemia and maintaining blood pressure within the limits, by using the therapeutic store available, basically calcium antagonists and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.