Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is defined as a clinical syndrome consisting of persistent macroalbuminuria, progressive decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), hypertension, increased cardiovascular disease events, and the associated mortality of these conditions. The disease evolves from the microvascular complications of poorly controlled Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The pathogenic pathways comprise renal haemodynamic changes, ischaemia and inflammation, and overactive renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS), through which several events cascade down from hyperglycaemia to renal fibrosis. Conventional and novel renoprotective strategies target modifiable DKD risk factors and specific stages of the pathogenic pathways, respectively. Although these strategies may slow DKD progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), novel drugs are still undergoing trials for validation in human participants. This narrative review appraises these renoprotective strategies and highlights the current clinical staging and pathogenesis of the disease.
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