What can be administered to a patient with diabetes and CKD who has albumin in the urine to slow disease progression?

In patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), the presence of albumin in the urine (albuminuria) is a significant indicator of kidney damage and disease progression. The administration of ACE inhibitors is particularly effective in this scenario, as they provide multiple renal protective benefits.

ACE inhibitors work by inhibiting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which plays a key role in regulating blood pressure and fluid balance. In patients with diabetes, this system can become overactive, leading to increased pressure in the glomeruli of the kidneys, exacerbating damage and proteinuria. By using ACE inhibitors, the pressure in the kidneys is reduced, decreasing the progression of nephropathy associated with diabetes and ultimately protecting renal function.

Moreover, ACE inhibitors have been shown to reduce albuminuria. This is important not only for slowing the progression of CKD but also for significantly lowering the risk of cardiovascular events associated with both diabetes and chronic kidney disease. This multifactorial benefit—coupling the management of blood pressure with the protection against renal damage—makes ACE inhibitors a cornerstone in treating patients who present with albuminuria in the setting of diabetes and CKD.

In contrast, while calcium supplements, beta-blockers,