A case of diabetic glomerulosclerosis without concurrent diabetes mellitus

Diabetic nephropathy is a complication of diabetes mellitus that is characterized by the appearance of diffuse and nodular glomerulosclerosis A 46-year-old man presented with generalized edema. He had severe nephrotic syndrome, renal insufficiency and hypertension without a family history or clinical evidence of diabetes mellitus. Oral glucose tolerance test showed impaired glucose tolerance, but several fasting plasma glucose determinations and serum hemoglobin A_1c levels were normal. Renal biopsy revealed nodular and diffuse glomerulosclerosis characteristic of diabetic nephropathy. The present case demonstrates that nodular glomerulosclerosis may be present without clinically overt diabetes mellitus.