Abstract
Despite recent advances in the management of diabetes, diabetic nephropathy is the most frequent cause ofend-stage renal disease. Even when diabetic nephropathy is established, patient's care should be optimized to delay progression of nephropathy or other diabetic complications. Evidence exists for the effectiveness of diet intervention, blood pressure and diabetes control and treatment of metabolic syndrome. We emphasize the need for closer co-operation not only between diabetologists, primary care physicians and nephrologists, but with educated diabetic patients, too. At referral to nephrologist, many patients' care is suboptimal and referral is too late. The most important education information for patients is to stick to diet and keep adequate blood pressure and diabetes control with self-monitoring. Effectiveness of each of these recommendations is critically assessed. Patients after kidney or combined kidney and pancreas transplantation have to be educated mainly in symptoms of rejection and diabetic foot care. They are recommended to take regularly the prescribed medicines, to distinguish the adverse events of immunosuppression and keep all doctor's appointments.
