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What's New
PubMed · December 31, 2026
Researchers found that eating a low-protein diet helped people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) — a condition where the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste — by improving blood sugar control and lowering the levels of harmful waste products in the blood that damaged kidneys can't clear out. The diet also triggered a rise in a hormone called FGF21, which helps the body adapt to eating less protein, though this same hormone may also cause some muscle loss, which is a concern for people with CKD who already need to protect their strength. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
PubMed · December 1, 2026
This research looked at two blood thinners — Eliquis (apixaban) and Xarelto (rivaroxaban) — compared to an older blood thinner called warfarin, in people who have atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat that raises stroke risk) and are on dialysis due to serious kidney disease. The study found that Eliquis and Xarelto were linked to lower rates of dangerous bleeding, stroke, and death compared to warfarin in this group, which is a meaningful safety and effectiveness update for a population that has historically been very difficult to treat. This adds to a growing picture suggesting these newer blood thinners may be a safer option than warfarin for people in this specific situation, though your doctor would weigh all the details before making any decision.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether apixaban might be safer than warfarin for preventing blood clots if the patient have atrial fibrillation and kidney problems.
Medications
PubMed · December 1, 2026
This is about Farxiga (dapagliflozin), a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana, which researchers looked at specifically for people with chronic kidney disease — a condition where the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter the blood. The study, which combined results from eight earlier studies, found that Farxiga was linked to meaningful improvements in anemia (low red blood cell levels, which causes fatigue and weakness) in people with kidney disease, along with a lower risk of death compared to other treatments. This appears to be a promising new option for managing anemia in kidney disease, a condition where current treatments come with notable safety concerns.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether dapagliflozin might help with anemia that comes from the patient's kidney disease.
Lifestyle
PubMed · December 1, 2026
A large review of 82 studies found that people with chronic kidney disease — a condition where the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter the blood — who did regular physical exercise were less likely to die, had lower high blood pressure, stronger heart and lung function, and less inflammation in their bodies. The benefit was especially strong for people on dialysis, a treatment that does the kidneys' filtering work for them. The type of exercise studied was structured aerobic activity, things like walking or cycling, done consistently over time — concrete enough that someone could lace up their shoes and take a brisk 20–30 minute walk today.
Guidelines
ScienceDaily · September 6, 2026
According to new clinical guidelines, people with heart failure should be screened early using simple blood and urine tests to check for kidney disease, because these two conditions can make each other worse over time — creating a harmful cycle that speeds up damage to both the heart and kidneys. The guidelines highlight that catching problems sooner, and starting proven treatments early, could meaningfully lower the chances of serious complications for patients. Talking with their doctor about whether this kind of screening is right for them may be a worthwhile conversation.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should get blood and urine tests to check for kidney disease, since heart and kidney problems can make each other worse.
What's New
PubMed · September 4, 2026
Researchers found that people with kidney disease who had low vitamin D levels were about 33% more likely to see their kidney disease get worse over time, compared to those with higher vitamin D levels. The analysis also suggested that for every significant drop in vitamin D, the odds of kidney disease worsening went up a bit more — pointing to a possible link between how low vitamin D falls and how quickly kidney function may decline. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 4, 2026
A study found that taking a daily probiotic (a supplement containing helpful bacteria called Lactobacillus plantarum) helped slow the worsening of chronic kidney disease — a condition where the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter the blood. Researchers measured kidney filtering ability over six months and found it actually improved in people taking the probiotic, while it declined in people taking a placebo (a dummy pill with no active ingredient); none of the probiotic group saw their disease get worse, compared to about 1 in 12 people in the placebo group. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient might benefit from taking a Lactobacillus plantarum probiotic supplement to help slow down kidney disease progression.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that canagliflozin — a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana — was linked to a significant reduction in the risk of kidney failure (when the kidneys stop working well enough on their own) in adults aged 50 and older with type 2 diabetes. Specifically, for roughly every 28 people who took the medication over three years, one case of kidney failure may have been prevented. The medication also appeared to lower the risk of death from serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, though that finding wasn't strong enough statistically to be considered definitive. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza helped protect against serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes equally well in people with type 2 diabetes, regardless of whether they also had reduced kidney function — meaning the kidneys' ability to filter blood was lower than normal. What's especially interesting is that people with reduced kidney function appeared to get a somewhat larger real-world benefit, because their overall heart risk was already higher to begin with. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza significantly reduced the risk of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, as well as kidney damage, in people with chronic kidney disease — a condition where the kidneys are gradually losing their ability to filter the blood properly. Across 13 studies involving tens of thousands of patients, the medication lowered the risk of kidney failure by more than a quarter and reduced a key marker of kidney stress called protein in the urine. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that combining two medications — a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana (empagliflozin) and a drug called finerenone — lowered blood pressure more effectively than either medication alone in people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, but mainly in those who already had higher blood pressure to start with. The study also found hints that lowering blood pressure early in treatment may help protect the kidneys over time, as measured by a protein called albumin leaking into the urine — a sign of kidney stress. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that a structured self-management program — where people with chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes learn skills to manage their health day-to-day — led to lasting improvements in sleep, pain, fatigue, and mood, even six months after the program ended, across many different countries. For someone with type 2 diabetes, this matters because managing a long-term condition involves a lot more than just medication — things like energy levels, sleep, and emotional well-being all affect how well someone can stay on top of their health. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with chronic kidney disease (a long-term condition where the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste from the blood) who ate less protein had lower levels of proteinuria — that's when too much protein leaks into the urine, which is a sign the kidneys are under stress. Cutting protein intake even further (a very low-protein diet) was linked to a lower chance of reaching end-stage kidney disease, meaning the point where the kidneys stop working well enough on their own. Researchers also found that adding a supplement called a ketoanalogue — a special compound that gives the body what it needs without the waste products that come from digesting regular protein — helped protect kidney function even more when combined with a low-protein diet.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that two diabetes medications like Jardiance or Invokana — specifically empagliflozin and dapagliflozin — may lower the risk of sudden cardiac death (when the heart unexpectedly stops beating) by about 18% compared to a placebo, based on data from more than 58,000 people across eight studies. This finding held up across different groups of patients, including those with type 2 diabetes, heart failure, or kidney disease, which makes it particularly interesting since sudden cardiac death is one of the hardest outcomes to prevent. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that for people with severe kidney disease, the choice to skip dialysis and focus on comfort-based care instead was influenced by factors like sex, race, income, and whether someone lives alone — and these patterns varied depending on where in the world patients lived. For example, in North America, non-white patients were less likely to choose non-dialysis care, while in Asia, people with lower incomes or less education were more likely to choose it. This matters because it suggests that not everyone with kidney failure is getting equal access to all care options, which could affect the quality of life and end-of-life planning for people with this condition. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD — a condition where the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste from the blood) who also carry extra weight, certain weight-loss approaches may help protect the kidneys. Bariatric surgery (a procedure that reduces the size of the stomach to help people lose significant weight) was linked to a meaningful improvement in how well the kidneys filter blood, and medications similar to a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza were associated with a 41% drop in a key protein in the urine — a sign that the kidneys may be under less strain. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that combining two medications — finerenone and a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana — reduced a key sign of kidney stress called albuminuria (protein leaking into the urine, which can signal kidney damage) more effectively than either medication taken alone, and this benefit held true regardless of where patients started in terms of their blood sugar level (A1C). This matters for people with type 2 diabetes because kidney problems are a serious and common complication, and finding that this combination works across a wide range of blood sugar levels suggests it could potentially help a broad group of patients. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether taking finerenone and empagliflozin together might help reduce protein in the patient's urine better than taking either medication alone.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
A study found that when doctors received a simple electronic alert reminding them to run a urine test — which checks for early signs of kidney damage — they ordered it about three times more often than doctors who got no reminder. This meant more people with type 2 diabetes were identified as having early kidney problems, which can be easy to miss because it often causes no symptoms. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with chronic kidney disease — a condition where the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste from the blood — are more likely to develop serious gum disease, and that this gum disease appears to significantly affect their overall quality of life, including physical discomfort and emotional well-being. Specifically, those with more advanced gum disease reported worse daily life experiences related to their oral health compared to those with little or no gum disease. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that for older adults with advanced chronic kidney disease whose health is already fragile or complicated by multiple conditions, dialysis — a treatment that filters the blood when the kidneys can no longer do it — didn't always help people live longer compared to a more comfort-focused approach called conservative kidney management, which prioritizes quality of life instead of aggressive treatment. In fact, the comfort-focused approach was linked to fewer hospital stays and a better quality of life for many of these patients, and those who chose it were more likely to die at home, which matched what they actually wanted. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient might be a better candidate for conservative kidney management instead of dialysis, especially if the patient is older or dealing with other serious health problems.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that two medications — a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana and a newer drug called finerenone — can both help protect the kidneys in people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, and using them together may offer additional benefits. One of the key findings was that a short-term dip in how well the kidneys filter blood (a common and usually harmless reaction to these medicines) didn't explain all the kidney-protecting effects, suggesting the drugs work through more than one pathway. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are on dialysis — a treatment that filters the blood when the kidneys can no longer do it — tend to have noticeably weaker breathing muscles and reduced lung capacity, along with weaker grip strength and lower overall physical ability compared to what's typical for their age and sex. The study also found that breathing muscle strength was closely linked to how well people could function physically day-to-day, suggesting the two problems may be connected. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with advanced kidney damage caused by type 2 diabetes who received intensive, all-around treatment — carefully managing their blood sugar control, blood pressure, and cholesterol alongside lifestyle changes — were significantly less likely over 10 years to experience serious kidney decline, complete kidney failure, or death compared to those who received standard care. The study also found that higher blood pressure and higher LDL cholesterol (sometimes called 'bad cholesterol') during treatment were linked to worse kidney outcomes. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that a new combination pill being developed for heart failure — pairing an experimental drug called balcinrenone with a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana (dapagliflozin) — works similarly in the body whether people take it with food or on an empty stomach, which could make it more convenient for patients to use in daily life. They also found that taking balcinrenone alongside certain other medications can raise the amount of it in the bloodstream, though not by a dramatic amount — something doctors may want to keep in mind when managing a patient's full list of medications. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 28, 2026
Researchers found that nearly half of people with chronic kidney disease (CKD — a condition where the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste from the blood) in Africa were experiencing protein-energy wasting, which means their bodies weren't getting or holding onto enough nutrients to stay strong and healthy. The problem was even more common among people receiving hemodialysis (a machine-based treatment that does the kidneys' filtering work), where more than half showed signs of this serious nutritional issue. This matters because poor nutrition in kidney disease is linked to worse health outcomes, and the findings highlight a significant but underrecognized challenge for patients in Africa. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 27, 2026
A study found that people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease who took semaglutide — a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza — were less likely to be hospitalized for serious infections, including COVID-19, compared to those who took a placebo. The benefit appeared strongest in people whose blood sugar level (A1C) was higher or whose kidneys were more severely affected, suggesting the medication may offer extra protection for those who are already at greater risk. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether semaglutide (like Ozempic or Wegovy) might help reduce the patient's risk of serious infections or COVID-19, based on what researchers found in a recent large study of people with type 2 diabetes.
Guidelines
PubMed · August 27, 2026
According to the European Renal Association (ERA) and the European Society of Organ Transplantation (ESOT) guidelines, managing blood-thinning medications in people with advanced kidney disease or those who have received a kidney transplant requires special care, because these patients face a higher risk of both blood clots and serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes. The guidelines note that standard recommendations often don't apply well to this group, since people with advanced kidney disease were largely left out of the major studies that shaped general guidance. These guidelines are designed to help doctors make more informed, tailored decisions — especially around the time of a transplant surgery — when getting the balance of blood-thinning treatment right is particularly critical.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient needs to take blood thinner medications differently before or after a kidney transplant, or if the patient's current blood thinner plan needs to change.
What's New
PubMed · August 25, 2026
Researchers found that two proteins measurable in urine — clusterin and epidermal growth factor (EGF, a substance that helps cells repair themselves) — may act as helpful early warning signals for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), a condition where the kidneys slowly lose their ability to filter waste from the blood. Specifically, a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana appeared to raise levels of the repair-related protein (uEGF), while a different type of medication called an endothelin receptor antagonist reduced levels of a protein linked to kidney injury (clusterin), suggesting these urine proteins could one day help doctors track how well treatments are actually working in the kidneys. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 25, 2026
A study found that among more than 4,400 people hospitalized for heart failure, those who also had chronic kidney disease — a condition where the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste from the blood — had significantly worse outcomes over the following five years. They were more likely to die sooner, were hospitalized more often, spent more days in the hospital, and racked up nearly twice the annual healthcare costs compared to heart failure patients without kidney disease. This matters because it highlights how much kidney disease can complicate heart failure, yet these patients were actually less likely to receive certain common heart medications — raising questions about gaps in their care. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 21, 2026
Researchers found that a technique called remote ischemic conditioning — where a blood pressure cuff briefly cuts off and restores blood flow to the arm in repeated cycles — helped reduce protein leaking into the urine in people with type 2 diabetes and early kidney damage. After 8 weeks, people using this technique saw about a 38% drop in that protein (called albumin), which is a sign that the kidneys may be under less stress, while the comparison group saw no improvement. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a physician before making any health decisions.