The incidence of end-stage renal failure (ESRF) is higher in the Indo-Asian ethnic group as compared to the White. To investigate whether this might be associated with faster rates of progression to ESRF in Indo-Asian diabetic patients, we studied a total of 39 Type 2 diabetic patients, using the Department of Nephrology database showing serial serum creatinine measurements from the time of first referral to the clinic until they reached a level of >500 micromol l(-1) or ESRF requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT), either dialysis or renal transplantation. They were grouped into Indo-Asian (n = 24) and White (n = 15). The rate of progression of those who developed ESRF, calculated as the slope of log serum creatinine against time, was not significantly different between the Indo-Asian and White patients, p = 0.73. We conclude that the higher incidence of ESRF in the Indo-Asian Type 2 diabetic patient with nephropathy is therefore not due to a faster rate of deterioration in renal function.