Nephropathy of type 2 diabetes is the leading cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD) in the world.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes affects over 170 million people, and, due to progressive aging of the population, life-style modifications and increasing burden of obesity, this number is expected to rise to 370 millions by 2030. About one third of those affected will eventually have progressive deterioration of renal function Untreated, these patients progress to ESRD within 10 years or die prematurely because of cardiovascular complications (that are 10-fold more frequent in diabetics with nephropathy than in those without and the general population). Costs for renal replacement therapy of these patients - and for treatment of related complications - are also progressively increasing.