[Selfcare of diabetic nephropathy].

One aimed to describe the selfcare of diabetic nephropathy. Descriptive study assisted in july-august/2004 a Reference Unit for diabetes mellitus in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. It is a, performed at the referral Secundary diabetes mellitus in Fortaleza-CE with 30 patients, across the medical files, semistructured interview and observation no participant. Predominance the female gender; 51 to 60 age; low education, monthly income of a minimum wage, nephropathy diabetes bearers type 2 associate the arterial hypertension. As to the orientations about selfcare, they are carried out by nurses and doctors. The diet and the psychological factor represented bearers the biggest obstacles to the treatment and the financial factor the main and limiting cause to its execution. We concluded that it is necessary a more intense education, contextualized with the reality in order to contribute to the diabetic nephropathy bearer's self sufficiency and quality of life enhancement.