Diabetic nephropathy is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus. The pathogenesis and natural history of diabetic nephropathy is characterized initially by microalbuminuria followed by a progressive decline in glomerular function. An emerging body of evidence supports the notion that glomerular capillary wall and mesangial alterations in diabetic nephropathy involve pathobiochemical alterations of glycoproteins in these structures. Evidence, in experimental animals rendered diabetic, reveals that the administration of heparin and other anionic glycoproteins (GAG) can effectively prevent the biochemical alterations which are responsible for albuminuria. Sulodexide, an orally active agent which does not have anticoagulant properties associated with its oral dose range, is comprised of three naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan (GAG) polysaccharide components isolated from porcine intestinal mucosa. Small clinical studies employing sulodexide, have shown that albuminuria is significantly diminished in patients with diabetic nephropathy, even when these patients are receiving angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), agents already proven to reduce albuminuria and slow progressive diabetic nephropathy.