Microvascular complications - Retinopathy and nephropathy

Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy extract an enormous toll on p atients with diabetes and an enormous burden on the health care system. Wit h aggressive control of glycemia and blood pressure, coupled with aggressiv e use of laser photocoagulation and treatment of microalbuminuria, these pr oblems largely can be eliminated. In the future, specific interventions may emerge that will allow interdiction of the pathophysiologic processes that lead to initiation and progression of these microvascular complications.