Table 1 Staging of diabetic nephropathy

Stage 1

Glomerular basement membrane thickening

From onset to 5 years. Borderline GFR, no albuminuria, hypertension. But kidney size increased by 20% along with an increase in renal plasma flow

Stage 2

Mild or severe mesangial expansion

From 2 years after onset with basement membrane thickening and mesangial prolieration, normal GFR and no clinical symptoms

Stage 3

Nodular sclerosis

5–10 years after onset with or without hypertension, with glomerular damage and microalbuminuria (30–300 mg/day)

Stage 4

Advanced diabetic glomerulosclerosis that includes tubulointerstitial lesions and vascular lesions

Irreversible proteinuria, sustained hypertension and GFR below 60 ml/min/1.73 m²

Stage 5

–

End-stage kidney disease with GFR < 15 ml/min/1.73 m²