Why Weight Loss Alone Isn’t Enough to Manage Your Type 2 Diabetes

As a patient with type 2 diabetes, it is crucial to understand the relationship between your condition and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Despite the importance of managing both conditions, many patients with type 2 diabetes are unaware of their risk for CKD. Weight loss is often promoted as the primary solution for managing type 2 diabetes, but while it offers significant health benefits, it is important to understand that weight loss alone does not address all the risks associated with type 2 diabetes, particularly the development of CKD. Type 2 diabetes can cause inflammation and scarring that progressively damages the kidneys, heart, and blood vessels, increasing the risk of cardiovascular events before CKD is diagnosed or treated. Approximately one in three people with type 2 diabetes develop CKD, and most are unaware of their risk until it’s too late and they require dialysis. To address this, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has updated its standards of care to emphasize proactive CKD screening for patients with type 2 diabetes. Early detection is essential to prevent further complications and delay disease progression. In this Q&A, Robert Perkins, Vice President of US Medical Affairs/Renal at Bayer, explains how type 2 diabetes leads to...