Albuminuria in Recent-Onset Type 2 Diabetes

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Abstract
OBJECTIVE—It is not known how frequently abnormal albumin excretion occurs in the initial years after the onset of type 2 diabetes and to what extent its occurrence is related to the severity of diabetes. We have used a prospective cohort study to examine this. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A total of 782 participants from the Strong Heart Study who had normal glucose tolerance and normal albumin excretion (albumin-to-creatinine ratio RESULTS—Abnormal albumin excretion was detected in 52 (6.6%) and diabetes was determined to be present in 105 (13.4%) of the participants at the follow-up visit. In univariate analyses, abnormal albumin excretion was statistically significantly related to the baseline albumin-to-creatinine ratio, diastolic blood pressure, fasting insulin, and extent of American Indian heritage. Abnormal albumin excretion was much more prevalent in those with recent onset diabetes at the follow-up visit (18 vs. 5%, P < 0.001). In a logistic regression analysis, abnormal albumin excretion and diabetes remained strongly related (odds ratio 3.45, P < 0.001), and associations of abnormal albumin excretion with baseline albumin-to-creatinine ratio, blood pressure, and American Indian heritage also remained significant in a separate logistic regression analysis, including only those who developed diabetes. There was a strong association between abnormal albumin excretion and fasting glucose levels (CONCLUSIONS—These data suggest that an appreciable percentage of individuals develop abnormal albumin excretion within the first few years after the onset of type 2 diabetes. Also, the severity of diabetes at onset appears to be a key risk factor for the early development of abnormal albumin excretion.