Diabetic nephropathy is when the kidney's ability to filter the blood becomes impaired. Diabetic related kidney damage usually progresses over a periods of years or decades depending on how good your blood glucose control is.
If you are regularly screened, at least once a year, for kidney damage, it can be spotted in the early stages before it becomes serious. About 40% of people with diabetes are expected to develop nephropathy at some point in their life.
Diabetic nephropathy: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-co...