Effect of Restricting Dietary Protein on the Progression of Renal Failure in Patients with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

END-STAGE renal disease is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus, particularly in patients with insulin-dependent (Type I) diabetes. Although blood glucose control and aggressive management of coexisting hypertension can slow the progression of diabetic nephropathy, 1 , 2 progressive renal insufficiency develops in almost half of patients with Type I diabetes. 3 4 5 6 Substantial evidence has accumulated in recent years from studies in animals to suggest that restriction of dietary protein and phosphorus can retard the progression of chronic renal failure. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 7 1 8 1 9 2 0 Micropuncture studies performed in rats subjected to subtotal nephrectomy or made diabetic with streptozocin have demonstrated elevations . . .