Anaemia as an early predictor for diabetic renal disease? A review of the literature.

Diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the western world and significant proportions of patients with diabetes mellitus develop renal complications. Anaemia is a key indicator of renal disease, and potentially may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes complications. Early correction of anaemia therefore has the potential to prevent or reverse other complications This review of the literature will examine anaemia in diabetic patients and seek to determine whether it is exclusive to diabetic nephropathy.