The current invention discloses methods for treating diseases characterized by elevated levels of the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) protein D2D3 wherein the disease is one or more of chronic kidney disease, insulin-dependent diabetes, or diabetic neuropathy. In addition, the invention provides methods for restoring pancreatic -cell number and function in the pancreas of a subject diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes wherein the insulin-dependent diabetes is characterized by the presence of detectable levels of D2D3 Specifically, the methods comprise administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that antagonizes or removes D2D3 from the circulation of the subject wherein the agent comprises an anti-D2D3 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to a D2D3 protein. Alternatively, the methods comprise removing the D2D3 protein from the circulation of the subject by an extracorporeal procedure.