A research team at the University of Bristol in England has reported the discovery of a new method of slowing the progression of kidney disease, an ailment that, according the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), affects one in three adults who have diabetes. The therapy they devised involves a drug originally designed to control high blood pressure.
That drug is spironolactone (brand names in the United States are Aldactone and CaroSpir). Essentially, it’s a diuretic, or water pill, that keeps the body from absorbing too much salt, and by doing so, prevents potassium levels from becoming too low. That’s why one of its uses is to prevent or treat hypokalemia, or low blood potassium levels. Spironolactone is also used to treat other conditions, such as heart failure, but…
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Diabetes Self-Management (Digital) - 1 Issue, Fall 2023