Increased Activity of a Renal Salt Transporter (ENaC) in Diabetic Kidney Disease

Increased Activity of the Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC) in Diabetic Nephropathy

The purpose of the study is to determine whether a diuretic drug called amiloride is capable of increasing renal salt excretion and thereby decrease blood pressure in diabetic patients with kidney disease. Our hypothesis states that amiloride is capable of reducing blood pressure in these patients and thus decrease the cardiovascular risk associated with diabetic kidney disease.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Type 1 diabetes
• Negative pregnancy test at inclusion and taking contraceptive medication
• One group with diabetic nephropathy and overt proteinuria
• One normoalbuminuric group without nephropathy
• Creatinine clearance > 40 ml/min

Exclusion Criteria:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Receiving amiloride, glucocorticoids, aldosterone or spironolactone
• Clinically relevant organic or systemic disease including malignancy