Smoking cessation, maintaining a healthy body mass index (ideal weight), and optimal blood glucose control, including intensive diabetes treatment if necessary, are essential for preventing or delaying the progression of nephropathy in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Recent years have seen the introduction of certain antidiabetic medications that have demonstrated positive effects on renal function in diabetic patients beyond blood glucose control. Furthermore, strict blood pressure and cholesterol control reduces the risk and slows the progression of diabetic nephropathy.