| Class I | Glomerular basement membrane thickening, mild nonspecific changes by light microscopy |
| Class IIa | Mild mesangial expansion |
| Class IIb | Severe mesangial expansion but without nodular sclerosis |
| Class III | Nodular sclerosis |
| Class IV | Advanced diabetic glomerulosclerosis, more than 50% of glomerulosclerosis. |