New Treatment For Chronic Kidney Disease And Type 1 Diabetes

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is very common in patients with diabetes. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can cause kidney damage. It develops slowly, with few noticeable symptoms. These often don’t appear until the disease is advanced. If you have diabetes, work closely with your medical professional to have your kidneys routinely monitored.

“Each kidney is made up of millions of tiny filters called nephrons. Over time, high blood sugar from diabetes can damage blood vessels in the kidneys as well as nephrons so they don’t work as well as they should. Many people with diabetes also develop high blood pressure, which can damage kidneys too.”

New Therapy Options For Type 1 Diabetes

In the past, treatment for CKD has focused mainly on Type 2 diabetes. But, approximately 30% of patients with CKD and Type 1 diabetes experience kidney failure. Recent studies have shown promising results in treating those with CKD and T1D. New data shows that SGLT2 inhibitors (medications to lower blood sugar) and the nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid antagonist (nsMRA) finerenone (this blocks certain steroids in the body that can damage the kidneys) as additional key therapies for patients.

Common Side Effects For SGLT2 Inhibitors:

• Urinary tract infections or yeast infections.
• Increase in urination.
• High cholesterol.
• Joint pain, nausea, thirst.
• Constipation and flu-like symptoms.

Common Side Effects For Finerenone:

• Confusion.
• Irregular heartbeat.
• Nausea, vomiting, nervousness.
• Numbness or tingling in your hands, feet or lips.
• Stomach pain or trouble breathing.

The use of finerenone in Type 1 diabetic patients has shown a 23% risk reduction for kidney damage by lowering albuminuria (too much protein in the blood). It has also been demonstrated that decreasing proteinuria (protein in the urine) helps protect the kidneys.

It is not possible to reverse kidney damage, but new and evolving therapies are showing great promise in helping those patients with chronic kidney disease and Type 1 diabetes.