A specialist highlights that obesity injections like semaglutide may also help preserve kidney function in type 2 diabetes sufferers, with recent clinical trial data supporting its potential beyond weight loss.
A diabetes and kidney specialist is urging patients not to dismiss so-called slimming injections as merely weight-loss drugs, arguing that semaglutide may also help slow chronic kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes. In a case described by Hong Yongxiang Clinic director Hong Yongxiang, a 62-year-old patient with diabetes and worsening kidney function lost 7 kilograms after six months of treatment, while protein in the urine fell sharply and the pace of kidney decline eased.
The broader case for semaglutide has been strengthened by the FLOW trial, published in The New England Journal of Medicine in May 2024. The study followed 3,533 adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease and found that once-weekly semaglutide 1.0 mg cut the risk of a major kidney or cardiovascular outcome, including progression to end-stage kidney disease, a fall in estimated glomerular filtration rate of at least 50%, or death from kidney or cardiovascular causes. The American College of Cardiology said the drug outperformed placebo over a median follow-up of 3.4 years.
Hong said the kidney benefits may reflect several effects at once: lower blood pressure and sodium retention, reduced protein loss in urine, less inflammation and scarring in kidney tissue, and better control of blood sugar and body fat. He also cautioned that the drug should not be self-prescribed, and that patients with kidney disease need careful specialist supervision, gradual dose increases and blood tests to monitor for side-effects. Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration had logged 48 adverse-event reports linked to slimming injections as of July 16, including gastrointestinal problems, acute kidney injury, low blood sugar, dizziness, depression, blurred vision and injection-site reactions.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
