A new study in Australia has shown that a blood test called PromarkerD can help doctors make better treatment decisions for people with type 2 diabetes who are at risk of kidney disease.
The findings could lead to earlier care, better outcomes, and lower health care costs.
The study, published in the Internal Medicine Journal, looked at how doctors responded when they were given PromarkerD results. A total of 178 doctors—including general practitioners and specialists—were surveyed using real-life patient situations. The researchers wanted to see how the test changed the way these doctors managed patients.
PromarkerD is a blood test that can predict chronic kidney disease (CKD) caused by diabetes up to four years before any symptoms appear. This is very important because once symptoms show, the disease is already advanced and harder to treat.
About half of all people with type 2 diabetes may develop CKD, and Australia has 1.5 million adults living with diabetes. That makes early detection even more important.
The study showed that more than 85% of doctors found PromarkerD useful when choosing how to treat their patients. Nearly 90% believed the test could improve patient health and reduce medical costs. Almost all of the doctors—97%—agreed that catching kidney disease early is the best approach and that there is a serious need for better tests.
With PromarkerD, doctors were able to act sooner. For patients who were identified as high risk, doctors were 20–30% more likely to prescribe medications known to protect the kidneys, such as SGLT2 inhibitors, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and statins. They also increased the number of check-ups and referred more patients to kidney specialists.
Patients with a moderate risk score also saw changes in how they were treated, while those with a low-risk score had fewer unnecessary tests and treatments. This means the test helped avoid over-treating people who didn’t need it.
Dr. Richard Lipscombe, the head of Proteomics International, which makes PromarkerD, said the study confirms the value of the test. He said that giving doctors reliable information sooner helps them make faster and better decisions, which can slow down the disease and possibly prevent the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Professor Merlin Thomas from Monash University, one of the study’s senior authors and a kidney specialist, added that PromarkerD helps doctors find kidney disease before it becomes obvious.
When doctors were shown moderate or high-risk test results, they were more likely to start treatments that protect the kidneys, increase check-ups, and avoid using drugs that could damage the kidneys, like ibuprofen.
He said these actions can help stop the disease from getting worse. For patients with low-risk scores, doctors were able to avoid giving unnecessary treatments, which saves time and money.
This study shows that PromarkerD is more than just a lab test—it’s a powerful tool for catching kidney disease early, especially in people with type 2 diabetes. It helps doctors choose the right treatment at the right time, which can improve patient health and reduce the need for serious procedures in the future.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about diabetes and vitamin B12, and the right diet for people with type 2 diabetes.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to eat smart with diabetes, and turmeric and vitamin D: a duo for blood pressure control in diabetic patients.
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