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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 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.
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 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 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 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 · 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.
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 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.
What's New
PubMed · August 19, 2026
Researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes who took both a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana AND a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza at the same time had better protection against serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, heart failure hospitalizations, and kidney damage than people taking either medication alone. This matters because doctors often prescribe just one of these drug types, and the combination may offer stronger benefits for the heart and kidneys — two areas where people with type 2 diabetes face higher risk. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether combining an SGLT2 inhibitor like Jardiance with a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic might provide better heart and kidney protection for the patient than taking just one of these medications.
What's New
ScienceDaily · August 18, 2026
A press release highlights a notable finding: a commonly prescribed high blood pressure medication was linked to a 33% higher chance of serious kidney problems in people with type 2 diabetes — even when those people were already taking other medications meant to protect their kidneys. This is raising questions among researchers about whether this type of blood pressure drug is always the best choice for people with type 2 diabetes who also have kidney concerns.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should be taking a calcium channel blocker for blood pressure, or whether a different type of blood pressure medicine might be safer for the patient's kidneys.
What's New
PubMed · August 7, 2026
Researchers found that a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana does not appear to significantly raise the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) — infections in the bladder or kidneys — which is reassuring news, since this had been a lingering concern. Looking at data from over 62,000 people across 14 studies, the slight increase in UTI risk seen with these medications was too small to be considered statistically meaningful. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 4, 2026
Researchers found that finerenone, a medication that blocks certain hormones to protect the heart and kidneys, appeared to reduce the risk of sudden death in people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease — a finding that stood out across three large studies involving nearly 19,000 people. Sudden death, meaning the heart unexpectedly stops without warning, is one of the most serious risks for people managing both diabetes and kidney problems, so even a modest reduction could be meaningful. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 1, 2026
Researchers found that combining two diabetes-related medications — a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana (specifically dapagliflozin) and a blood pressure drug called spironolactone — reduced protein leaking into the urine more effectively than using either medication alone in elderly people with early kidney damage from type 2 diabetes. Protein in the urine (called albuminuria) is an early warning sign that the kidneys are under stress, so reducing it is considered a good sign for kidney health. Interestingly, the combination also appeared to lower the risk of dangerously high potassium levels — a known side effect of spironolactone — compared to using spironolactone on its own. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 1, 2026
Researchers found that a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana was linked to meaningful reductions in deaths from heart-related causes and kidney failure among people with diabetes, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease — with those benefits appearing consistently across different age groups. Interestingly, older adults (over 65) also showed a reduction in overall death from any cause, a finding that wasn't seen in the broader group as a whole. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with chronic kidney disease (CKD, meaning long-term loss of kidney function) who had blood sugar levels (A1C) that swung up and down a lot over time were significantly more likely to experience serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, and were also more likely to die, compared to those whose blood sugar stayed more stable. The link between unstable blood sugar and the kidneys getting worse was unclear and needs more investigation. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 1, 2026
A study found that people with type 2 diabetes and advanced kidney disease who used an automated insulin delivery system — a device that automatically adjusts insulin based on continuous blood sugar readings — spent significantly more time with their blood sugar in a healthy range compared to those receiving usual care. Specifically, the time spent in a healthy blood sugar range jumped from about 60% to 73%, which could mean fewer dangerous highs and lows throughout the day. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 16, 2026
Researchers found that smartphone and app-based tools that send people personalized nudges or tips at just the right moment — like when they're most likely to make a poor food choice — may help people eat healthier in their everyday lives. For someone managing obesity, this kind of real-time, tailored support could make it easier to build better habits without relying on memory or willpower alone. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 14, 2026
A study found that in people with type 2 diabetes, managing both blood pressure and blood sugar control together led to better outcomes than managing either one alone — mainly by reducing the chances of dying from serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, and lowering the risk of kidney damage. Researchers used a method that ranked outcomes by seriousness to get a clearer picture of which benefits mattered most, and found that combining both treatments gave a stronger overall benefit than either approach on its own. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that tirzepatide — a newer diabetes medication that works similarly to a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza but targets two different pathways in the body — appeared to reduce the risk of serious kidney problems more than dulaglutide (another injectable diabetes medication) in people with type 2 diabetes and existing heart disease, with the benefit being especially notable in those whose kidneys were already under significant strain. Kidney disease is a common and serious complication of type 2 diabetes, so finding medications that may help protect the kidneys on top of managing blood sugar control is an area of strong interest. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether tirzepatide might protect the patient's kidneys better than dulaglutide based on a recent study comparing these two diabetes medications.
Guidelines
PubMed · July 1, 2026
According to the American Diabetes Association guidelines, people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease are recommended to work toward several health targets — including blood sugar level (A1C), blood pressure, cholesterol, and taking certain diabetes medications like Jardiance or Invokana or a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza — to help lower the risk of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, as well as kidney complications. The guidelines highlight that meeting more of these targets at the same time is linked to better outcomes overall, meaning fewer hospitalizations and less risk of dangerous complications. This matters because it shows how managing several health goals together, rather than just one at a time, may offer greater protection for people living with both type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether finerenone might help protect the patient's kidneys even if the patient isn't meeting all the American Diabetes Association's treatment goals like blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol targets.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found something surprising about a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana called canagliflozin: it seemed to significantly lower the risk of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes — including hospitalization for heart failure — mainly in people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease who were already eating a lower-sodium diet, while offering little of that same heart benefit to those eating higher amounts of salt. This is an unexpected twist, because lower sodium intake is generally thought to be heart-healthy, yet in this study, people eating less sodium actually had a higher risk of heart-related problems when they weren't taking the medication. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
PubMed · June 13, 2026
A study found that finerenone (brand name Kerendia), a medication that works by blocking a specific hormone receptor involved in kidney damage, helped slow the progression of chronic kidney disease and reduced serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes across a wide range of patients — not just those with diabetes. Researchers pooled data from over 14,500 participants across three studies to reach these findings, making this a broader look at how the drug performs than what was previously known. This appears to be new evidence expanding our understanding of who might benefit from this treatment option.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether finerenone might help slow down the patient's kidney disease and protect the patient's heart, based on recent research showing it works across different types of kidney problems.
What's New
PubMed · June 10, 2026
Researchers found that nearly half of people in the general population have high blood pressure specifically at night — even if their daytime readings look normal — and the numbers are even higher among people who already have high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, or kidney problems. This matters because nighttime blood pressure turns out to be a stronger warning sign for serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes than the readings taken during the day, suggesting that standard daytime measurements alone might be missing something important. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Guidelines
AHA Guidelines · June 9, 2026
According to the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology guidelines, people with chronic kidney disease (where the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste from the blood) should be assessed using a new staging system that looks at how their kidneys, metabolism, and heart health all connect — because problems in one area can make the others worse. These guidelines matter because catching these linked conditions early, before serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes develop, gives doctors a better chance to protect their patients' overall health.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should be screened for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome and what that screening would involve.
Guidelines
PubMed · June 9, 2026
According to the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, American Diabetes Association, and American Society of Nephrology guidelines, people with type 2 diabetes often face overlapping risks involving the heart, kidneys, and metabolism — and these guidelines are designed to help doctors manage all of those risks together rather than treating each one separately. This matters because heart disease and kidney disease are closely connected to diabetes, meaning addressing them as a group can lead to better overall care. These guidelines are intended to give doctors — including heart specialists, diabetes specialists, kidney specialists, and primary care providers — a shared, up-to-date approach to protecting their patients' health.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should be screened for kidney disease and heart problems as part of managing their type 2 diabetes, since these conditions often happen together.
Medications
ScienceDaily · June 8, 2026
A medical press release highlights new findings about a drug called finerenone, which may help protect the kidneys and heart in a much larger group of people with chronic kidney disease than doctors previously realized — including people whose kidney disease is not related to diabetes, who often have very few treatment options. Three major studies found that finerenone significantly slowed the worsening of kidney disease and lowered the chances of kidney failure, heart failure, and death. This appears to be an emerging new option, though readers should speak with their doctor to understand whether it might be relevant to their situation.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether finerenone might be something the patient should consider taking to help protect their kidneys and heart.
For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a physician before making any health decisions.