In people with type 2 diabetes, microalbuminuria is a strong, independent risk factor for diabetic nephropathy and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. ACE inhibitor therapy decreased the risk of microalbuminuria in hypertensive subjects with type 2 diabetes and normoalbuminuria by about 40%. Available data suggest that angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) might have a similar renoprotective effect and that this effect might be increased by combined ACE inhibitor therapy.