In the last decades, the incidence of type 2 diabetes has increased alarmingly worldwide including Mexico, and particularly among Mexican-Americans. The etiology of type 2 diabetes is multiple, in which there is a complex interaction between environmental and genetic risk factors. The kidney is a target organ that is damaged when type 2 diabetes occurs. The genetic predisposition for kidney disease in type 2 diabetes patients is the end result of the cumulative effects of multiple genetic and environmental factors. The components of the renin-angiotensin system and its genetic polymorphisms represent an area of intense research due to its association with kidney disease. Early identification of genetic risk factors for developing kidney disease could lead to timely treatment and may influence the response of the patients to drug therapy and diet recommendations.