A new study from the University of Bristol has found a hopeful new way to slow down kidney disease in people with diabetes. This could be great news for many, especially in the UK, where about 4.8 million people live with diabetes.
Kidney problems are a common and serious issue for them—around 40% develop some form of kidney disease, and they are much more likely than others to need dialysis or even a kidney transplant.
The study looked at a drug called spironolactone. It’s normally used to treat high blood pressure, but it’s now showing promise in protecting the kidneys, too. Previous studies had already found that this drug could reduce the amount of protein leaking into the urine, which is a warning sign that the kidneys are being damaged.
But while the drug seemed helpful, many doctors were cautious about using it because of a serious side effect: it can raise the level of potassium in the blood too much, which can be dangerous.
The research team wanted to understand how spironolactone actually helps protect the kidneys. What they found was very interesting. The drug seems to protect a special part of the kidneys called the glycocalyx.
This is a thin, jelly-like layer that lines the blood vessels in the kidneys. It acts like a protective coat, keeping the blood vessels healthy and stopping damage from happening. In people with diabetes, this layer often gets damaged, which can lead to kidney disease. But spironolactone appears to keep this layer from breaking down.
To test this idea, scientists looked at kidney tissue samples taken from people with and without diabetes. They created a new way to measure how thick and healthy the glycocalyx layer was.
The results showed that people with diabetes had a much thinner glycocalyx layer, meaning it had been damaged. But when spironolactone was used, the damage was much less. This suggests that the drug has a real protective effect.
The team also found that spironolactone stops certain enzymes from working too hard. These enzymes, called matrix metalloproteases, break down the glycocalyx layer. By slowing these enzymes down, spironolactone helps keep the layer in good shape. That means less kidney damage over time.
Because of the risk of high potassium, the researchers are now looking into other drugs that might work in the same way but without this risky side effect. If they can find a safer option that also protects the glycocalyx, it could lead to better treatments for people with diabetic kidney disease.
This discovery is a big step forward in fighting a condition that causes serious problems for millions of people. By understanding how spironolactone works, scientists are closer to finding new medicines that can slow or stop kidney damage in people with diabetes. This could improve their quality of life and reduce the need for dialysis or transplants.
If you have diabetes, there are things you can do right now to protect your kidneys. Keeping your blood sugar and blood pressure under control is very important.
Eating a healthy diet with less salt, staying active, quitting smoking, and following your doctor’s advice about medicines can all help keep your kidneys healthy. It’s also important to get regular check-ups so any kidney problems can be caught early.
The study was led by Dr. Matthew Butler and published in the journal JCI Insight. It shows how older medicines like spironolactone might have new uses. As researchers learn more, people living with diabetes may soon have better ways to protect their kidneys and stay healthier for longer.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about pesticide linked to chronic kidney disease, and this drug may prevent kidney failure in people with diabetes.
For more health information, please see recent studies about drug duo that may treat kidney failure, and results showing these vegetables may protect against kidney damage.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
