Smoking and diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most serious complications of diabetes mellitus. It is not only a central cause of terminal renal insufficiency, but is also closely linked to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The search for modifiable risk factors is therefore of the utmost relevance. A recent meta-analysis updates and clarifies the data situation and shows that both current and former smoking are associated with a significantly increased risk for the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy. This has far-reaching implications for nephrology practice – in risk stratification, monitoring and preventive counseling.