RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To identify microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-section study was made in patients with type 2 diabetes with more than a year of evolution. Microalbuminuria was defined as the presence of 30 to 300 mg of albumin in urine of 24 hours. The socio-demographic characteristics, type of diet, exercise, type of antihypertensive and oral antihyperglycemic agents were analyzed. Basal glycemia after one and two months, and renal state were assessed. RESULTS: Of 301 type 2 diabetic patients, 251 had microalbuminuria. The mean age was 57.2 years old. Women predominated over men (1.4:1). The mean for diabetes evolution was nine years. The complication with more frequency was hypertensive cardiopathy 78.1 %. A medium protein diet was present in 49%. 62.2% exercised and 40.2% exercised less than 30 minutes. Mean GFR with creatinine clearance was 83.3 +/- 32 mL/min. 98% of the cases received oral antihyperglycemic agents. Basal glycemia, after one and two months, was, on average, 171.8 mg/dL, 190.1 mg/dL, and 217.4 mg/dL. 74.5% of the patients had hyperglycemia in the first measuring, 79.3% in the second one, and 70.5% in the third one. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of microalbuminuria was greater than the reported in literature (85.3%). A poor control of glycemia was showed.