Work

Diabetes Educators: Understanding the Role of Finerenone in Chronic Kidney Disease Associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: People living with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at risk of developing diabetes-related complications such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). Screening for CKD is considered the standard of diabetes care, but less than half of people living with diabetes in the United States receive guideline-directed kidney disease testing. Despite recent pharmacologic advances for the treatment of this condition, insufficient screening delays both diagnosis and treatment of diabetes-related CKD and increases the risk of poor outcomes. The nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist finerenone is an orally administered drug that, when taken with the maximum tolerated dose of a renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitor, can provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits for people living with T2DM-related CKD. Yet, uptake of this drug has been slow. Increasing awareness of finerenone may encourage its use in clinical practice. Diabetes educators are healthcare professionals (HCPs) with extensive diabetes care experience who encourage diabetes self-management and provide patients with education on the prevention of diabetes-related complications. Diabetes educators bridge knowledge and care gaps among other HCPs by facilitating communication between members of the care team and raising awareness on the importance of CKD prevention and screening. Additionally, diabetes educators reinforce the clinical evidence behind available treatments to promote adherence to guidelines. Here, the evidence for finerenone in T2DM-related CKD and the role of the diabetes educator from both patient and HCP perspectives are reviewed. Graphical abstract available for this article. People living with diabetes should be aware of the importance of diabetes self-management and their risk of developing diabetes-related complications. Diabetes educators are healthcare professionals who are experts in diabetes care and work as part of a healthcare team. Their primary role is to support people living with diabetes and provide personalized education to each individual. They teach people how to manage diabetes and how to reduce their risk of diabetes-related complications. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a diabetes-related complication where the kidneys do not work as well as they should. There are several treatments available to slow the worsening of CKD. As part of a healthcare team, diabetes educators help inform people with CKD and diabetes about treatment options and raise awareness among healthcare professionals on the importance of CKD screening and early treatment. Finerenone (fin-er-e-none) is a medicine used to treat people who have CKD and type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is a tablet taken by mouth once daily. A diabetes educator can advise people on what finerenone is, how to take it, how it works, appropriate monitoring, and possible side effects. In this review article, the authors, including a person living with CKD and diabetes, discuss the role of diabetes educators in providing educational support and healthcare guidance to people living with diabetes. The authors also provide information and educational resources about finerenone, for diabetes educators and other healthcare professionals, and for use in discussions with people with diabetes and CKD.

Source: Diabetes Therapy

DOI: 10.1007/s13300-025-01705-y

Authors: Anne M. Komé, Anita Yang, Patrick Gee, Klara R. Klein

Institutions: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Health Care

Language: English

Topic: Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetes

Subfield: Nephrology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $7,400