system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
The characteristic finding in diabetic nephropathy is-
assistant
The correct answer is  Pathologically, the first changes in diabetic nephropathy coincide with the onset of microalbuminuria and include thickening of the glomerular basement membrane and accumulation of matrix material in the mesangium. Subsequently, nodular deposits (Kimmelstiel-Wilson nodule), pathognomic of diabetic kidney disease, and glomerulosclerosis develops which worsens as heavy proteinuria develops, until glomeruli are progressively lost and renal function deteriorates. Reference : page 830 Davidson's Principles and practice of Medicine 22nd edition