Prevention of NEphron loss in type 2 DIABetic patients followed in general practice. Protocol of the French PENEDIAB study

The number of diabetic patients is constantly increasing in France. The severity of long-term diabetes is linked to the complications it causes, including renal failure. GFR decline is a good means of measuring a loss of renal function. General practitioners (GPs) are in the front line concerning the global accompaniment of these patients. This includes prevention, follow-up, therapeutical adaptation. To identify GFR decline diabetic patients and the impact of implemented measures in general practice to reduce this loss. We present the protocol of a prospective, multicentred, randomized, controlled, two-arm interventional study among a study population in the North-West region of France. The 360 types 2 diabetic patients will be recruited by 36 GPs. The inclusion criteria target women or men over 50 with type 2 diabetes, and GFR less than 90 ml/min and greater than 45 ml/min (stage 2 and 3a renal failure). 18 GPs will be randomized in an intervention group (training on GFR decline screening and specific patient-centred measures). The study is promoted by the University Hospital of Lille. The main objective of the study is to demonstrate that patient-adapted preventive management reduces GFR decline in type 2 diabetic patients. To improve the patients’ quality of life through the early screening any study on GFR decline should involve GPs since they do have a preventive role in general practice and avoid renal failure. Up to now, in France, any study on GFR decline should involve GPs since they do have a preventive role