In humans, diabetic nephropathy manifests as a clinical syndrome consisting of albuminuria, progressive decline in excretory renal function, and an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (5). Diabetic albuminuria in humans is associated with the development of characteristic histopathologic features, including glomerular hypertrophy, thickening of the glomerular basement membrane, and mesangial matrix expansion (6). Decline of excretory renal function is associated with glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis (6). A mouse model that develops all of these features is not currently available (4).