Nephropathy is a major complication of diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease; it is clinically characterized by proteinuria and progressive renal insufficiency. Human podocytes have been demonstrated to be functionally and structurally injured in the natural history of diabetic nephropathy. Urinary podocyte count and measurement of urinary podocyte specific markers (nephrin, synaptopodin, podocin and podocalyxin) have been developed to detect podocyte injury. We discuss the emerging clinical importance of the urinary podocyte count in experimental and human glomerular disease, as well as measurement of urinary podocyte specific marker