Persistent microalbuminuria is the first clinical sign of renal dysfunction in diabetic patients and progresses to overt proteinuria in 20 to 40 percent of cases. In 10 to 50 percent of patients with proteinuria, chronic kidney disease develops that ultimately requires dialysis or transplantation. Of great concern, 40 to 50 percent of type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria eventually die of cardiovascular disease.Thus, preventing (or delaying) the development of microalbuminuria is a key treatment goal for renoprotection and, possibly, for cardioprotection.