RESUMEN
Single attempt kidney biopsy was successful in 60 cases of diabetes mellitus out of 83. Histopathological evidence of nephropathy was found in 30 (50%) out of 60 (4 of IDDM and 56 of NIDDM). Microproteinuria was a sensitive indicator of histopathological evidence of nephropathy (by biopsy) and should be used as a non invasive method of evidence of kidney involvement in diabetes mellitus regardless of duration of the disease. Routine renal function tests--commonly used indicators of kidney disease in the presence of hypertension were of no value and should not be relied upon. Duration of diabetes mellitus was important correlation with the evidence of the disease and and its severity but nephropathy was found in newly detected cases of diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Nephropathy was present in case of DM who had retinopathy and is a better factor of correlation.