Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered that the five-year survival of diabetic kidney transplant patients is now on par with the five-year survival of nondiabetic kidney recipients. These study findings represent significant improvements in the management of kidney transplant patients who have diabetes and pretransplant consequences of diabetes such as heart disease and high blood pressure. The study also suggests better prevention of post-transplant cardiac events and infections. Prior to 1996, the five-year mortality rate of diabetic kidney transplant patients was more than double that of nondiabetic kidney recipients.