# Kidney and diabetes lab tests explained Guide · id `cardio:guide-kidney-diabetes-lab-tests` · Cardiovascular Atlas · release `f4600233112e1c27` (public) > General information only. This guide shows what the sources it cites say. It is not medical advice, it cannot tell you what is right for you, and no clinician has reviewed it. Talk to a qualified health professional about your own care. In an emergency, call your local emergency number. > General information from published sources, not medical advice, and not reviewed by clinicians. Check the cited source before relying on anything here. The atlas's own text and curation may be reused under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/): credit the atlas, and do not use it commercially. See the atlas About page. Text quoted from a source stays under that source's own terms, given as the source's reuse\_basis. The atlas's reuse terms do not cover it. The downloads list each quotation with its source in third\_party\_quotations. What eGFR, urine albumin (UACR) and HbA1c tests measure, the ranges that two US government sources name, and what four trials of medicines tested for kidney outcomes reported. ## What MedlinePlus says the three tests measure - An eGFR test is used to see if the kidneys are filtering waste at a healthy rate. [1] - Providers often start by measuring creatinine, a waste product from muscles, and also consider age, weight, height and sex. [2, 3] - eGFR may also be calculated from cystatin C, a protein many cells make, and some researchers think it gives a more accurate estimate than creatinine. [4] - eGFR tests are used to screen for kidney disease in people without symptoms. [5, 6] - eGFR tests also help diagnose kidney disease in people who have symptoms. [5, 7] - eGFR tests help find out how serious kidney disease is. [5, 8] - eGFR tests are used to monitor people treated for chronic kidney disease or taking medicines that could harm the kidneys. [5, 9] - eGFR tests are also used to check kidney health before certain treatments that could affect the kidneys. [5, 10] - A microalbumin creatinine ratio test, also called UACR, compares the amount of the protein albumin in urine with the amount of creatinine. [11, 12, 13] - Healthy kidneys let only a trace of albumin, at most, into the urine, and abnormal amounts may be an early sign of kidney disease. [11, 14] - The test is most often used to look for signs of kidney disease in people at high risk who have no symptoms, such as people with diabetes or high blood pressure. [15] - The test may also be used to monitor the kidneys of people diagnosed with kidney disease. [16] - MedlinePlus calls testing for kidney disease every year important for anyone with diabetes. [17] - An A1C test is a blood test that shows the average level of blood glucose over the past two to three months. [18] - It measures the percentage of red blood cells that have glucose-coated hemoglobin. [19] - An A1C test may be used to screen for or diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, and to help monitor people who have diabetes or prediabetes. [20, 21, 22] - The A1C test is not used to diagnose type 1 diabetes but may be used to monitor blood glucose levels. [23] ## eGFR ranges from two sources - In general, MedlinePlus says an eGFR between 90 and 100 means a person probably does not have kidney disease. [24, 25] - In general, MedlinePlus says an eGFR between 60 and 90 means a person may have early-stage kidney disease. [24, 26] - In general, MedlinePlus says an eGFR between 15 and 60 means a person may have kidney disease. [24, 27] - In general, MedlinePlus says an eGFR below 15 means a person may have kidney failure. [24, 28] - MedlinePlus says eGFR varies with age, body size and other health conditions, so a provider can explain how the general ranges apply. [29] - It adds that an eGFR is not a perfect test, may not always reflect kidney damage, and can be abnormal in a person who has no kidney damage. [29] - A NIDDK page last reviewed in October 2016 called a GFR of 60 or more the normal range. [30, 31] - The same page said a GFR of less than 60 may mean kidney disease. [30, 32] - It called a GFR of 15 or less kidney failure. [30, 33] - The two sources describe an eGFR between 60 and 90 differently, and the NIDDK page is the older of the two. [26, 30] ## Urine albumin: a cut-off and repeat tests - That NIDDK page also said a urine albumin result of 30 or less, in milligrams of albumin per gram of creatinine (mg/g), is normal, and more than 30 may be a sign of kidney disease. [30, 34, 35, 36] - MedlinePlus says an abnormal result likely leads to more tests to confirm it. [37] - It says two more tests usually follow over the three to six months after the first test. [38] - It adds that a person may have early-stage kidney disease if two of the three tests are abnormal. [38] - MedlinePlus says higher or increasing amounts of albumin usually mean kidney disease that is more serious and likely to get worse faster. [39, 40] - It says they also usually mean a higher risk of heart and blood vessel problems. [39, 41] ## A1C percentages used for diagnosis - For diagnosing diabetes or prediabetes, MedlinePlus says the percentages commonly used call an A1C below 5.7% normal. [42, 43] - For diagnosing diabetes or prediabetes, MedlinePlus says the percentages commonly used call an A1C between 5.7% and 6.4% prediabetes. [42, 44] - For diagnosing diabetes or prediabetes, MedlinePlus says the percentages commonly used call an A1C of 6.5% or higher diabetes. [42, 45] - MedlinePlus calls the ranges just a guide and says what is normal for a person depends on health, age and other factors. [46] - MedlinePlus says providers often use more than one test to diagnose diabetes. [47] - It adds that a higher than normal result may lead to another A1C test or to a different diabetes test, usually a fasting blood glucose test or an oral glucose tolerance test. [47] - MedlinePlus says the A1C test is not used to diagnose gestational diabetes. [48] ## How the sources link the tests - NIDDK and MedlinePlus say diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of chronic kidney disease in adults. [49] - NIDDK says providers check for kidney disease with a blood test for GFR and a urine test for albumin, and use the same two tests to monitor it. [50, 51, 52] - MedlinePlus says high A1C levels are a sign of high blood glucose from diabetes. [53] - It adds that diabetes can cause serious health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease and nerve damage. [53] ## How four trials of medicines used the tests - Who could join each of four kidney trials depended on eGFR, and for at least some participants on the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, with different cut-offs in each trial. [36, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66] - In each of these trials, a fall in eGFR of at least 40% or 50% from the starting level was part of the main outcome. [67, 68, 69, 70] ## A trial of finerenone in chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes - The trial randomly assigned 5734 patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes to finerenone or placebo. [71, 72] - All of the patients were treated with a renin-angiotensin system blocker. [73, 74] - Over a median of 2.6 years, the main outcome occurred in 17.8% of patients on finerenone and 21.1% on placebo. [75, 76] - The main outcome was kidney failure, a sustained fall in eGFR of at least 40%, or death from kidney causes. [67, 77] - Stopping the trial regimen because of high potassium (hyperkalemia) was more common on finerenone than on placebo, 2.3% against 0.9%. [78] ## A trial of dapagliflozin in chronic kidney disease - The trial randomly assigned 4304 participants with chronic kidney disease, with or without type 2 diabetes, to dapagliflozin or placebo. [56, 58, 79] - An independent data monitoring committee recommended stopping the trial because of efficacy. [80] - Over a median of 2.4 years, the main outcome occurred in 9.2% of participants on dapagliflozin and 14.5% on placebo. [81, 82] - The main outcome was a sustained fall in eGFR of at least 50%, end-stage kidney disease, or death from kidney or cardiovascular causes. [68, 83] ## A trial of empagliflozin in chronic kidney disease at risk of progression - The trial randomly assigned 6609 patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of disease progression to empagliflozin or placebo. [84, 85, 86] - Over a median of 2.0 years, kidney disease progression or death from cardiovascular causes occurred in 13.1% of patients on empagliflozin and 16.9% on placebo. [87, 88] - The results were consistent among patients with or without diabetes and across subgroups defined by eGFR range. [89] ## A trial of semaglutide in type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease - The trial randomly assigned 3533 patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease to semaglutide or placebo. [63, 66, 90] - Median follow-up was 3.4 years, after early trial cessation was recommended at a prespecified interim analysis. [90, 91] - The risk of major kidney disease events was 24% lower with semaglutide than with placebo. [92, 93] - These events were kidney failure, at least a 50% fall in eGFR, or death from kidney-related or cardiovascular causes. [70, 92, 94] ## What the sources say can change a result - [ ] eGFR can vary with age, body size and other health conditions. [29] - [ ] Some foods, such as meat, and certain medicines can affect an eGFR result. [95] - [ ] Severe malnutrition, muscle wasting conditions and advanced liver disease are named as conditions that can make an eGFR unreliable. [96] - [ ] Hard exercise may raise the amount of albumin in urine for a short time. [97] - [ ] Fever, inflammation and certain medicines may also cause temporary rises in urine albumin. [37] - [ ] Urinary tract infections, gum infections and hepatitis may raise albumin in urine. [98] - [ ] Muscle density, diet, age and race may also affect urine albumin results. [99] - [ ] Anemia or another type of blood disorder may make an A1C test inaccurate for diagnosing diabetes. [48] - [ ] Kidney failure and liver disease can also affect A1C results. [48] - [ ] Certain medicines, such as opioids and some HIV medicines, and pregnancy may affect A1C results. [100] ## Questions to ask 1. Which of these tests have I had, and how often are they done for someone with my conditions? 2. Which ranges does my lab use for these results, and how do they apply to me? 3. Could any of my medicines, conditions or recent activities have affected these results? 4. If a result is abnormal, will the test be repeated, and when? 5. Which of the tests will be used to follow my kidney health over time? 6. Do the results of these trials apply to someone with my kidney function, urine albumin results and diabetes status? 7. Is a medicine like those tested in these trials something to discuss for my situation? ## Sources 1. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is it used for?, para 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 2. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What are estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and GFR tests?, para 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 3. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What are estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and GFR tests?, para 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 4. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What are estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and GFR tests?, para 6. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 5. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is it used for?, para 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 6. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is it used for?, para 2, list item 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 7. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is it used for?, para 2, list item 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 8. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is it used for?, para 2, list item 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 9. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is it used for?, para 2, list item 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 10. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is it used for?, para 2, list item 5. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 11. MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is a microalbumin creatinine ratio test?, para 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 12. MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is a microalbumin creatinine ratio test?, para 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 13. MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is a microalbumin creatinine ratio test?, para 5. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 14. MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is a microalbumin creatinine ratio test?, para 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 15. MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is it used for?, para 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 16. MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is it used for?, para 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 17. MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: Why do I need a microalbumin creatinine ratio test?, para 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 18. MedlinePlus medical test: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is a hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test?, para 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 19. MedlinePlus medical test: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is a hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test?, para 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 20. MedlinePlus medical test: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is it used for?, para 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 21. MedlinePlus medical test: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is it used for?, para 2, list item 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 22. MedlinePlus medical test: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is it used for?, para 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 23. MedlinePlus medical test: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is it used for?, para 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 24. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 25. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 3, list item 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 26. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 3, list item 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 27. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 3, list item 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 28. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 3, list item 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 29. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 30. NIDDK: Chronic Kidney Disease Tests & Diagnosis (Webpage, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health) . Locator: Page footer, review date. Retrieved 2026-10-15. 31. NIDDK: Chronic Kidney Disease Tests & Diagnosis (Webpage, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health) . Locator: Blood test for GFR, para 1, list item 1. Retrieved 2026-10-15. 32. NIDDK: Chronic Kidney Disease Tests & Diagnosis (Webpage, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health) . Locator: Blood test for GFR, para 1, list item 2. Retrieved 2026-10-15. 33. NIDDK: Chronic Kidney Disease Tests & Diagnosis (Webpage, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health) . Locator: Blood test for GFR, para 1, list item 3. Retrieved 2026-10-15. 34. NIDDK: Chronic Kidney Disease Tests & Diagnosis (Webpage, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health) . Locator: Urine Test for Albumin, para 7. Retrieved 2026-10-15. 35. NIDDK: Chronic Kidney Disease Tests & Diagnosis (Webpage, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health) . Locator: Urine Test for Albumin, para 7, list item 2. Retrieved 2026-10-15. 36. Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 2, fragment 1 of 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 37. MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 38. MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 39. MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 40. MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 3, list item 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 41. MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 3, list item 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 42. MedlinePlus medical test: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 43. MedlinePlus medical test: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 2, list item 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 44. MedlinePlus medical test: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 2, list item 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 45. MedlinePlus medical test: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 2, list item 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 46. MedlinePlus medical test: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 47. MedlinePlus medical test: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 48. MedlinePlus medical test: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: Is there anything else I need to know about an A1C test?, para 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 49. Claim `cardio:claim-diabetes-ckd-cause`: The NIDDK chronic kidney disease page says that diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of chronic kidney disease in adults. The MedlinePlus chronic kidney disease summary says the same. - Applies to: Adults with chronic kidney disease, or at higher risk of it, for example because of diabetes or high blood pressure.; Not stated; patient information pages; Not stated; United States federal health agencies; Adults. Follow-up: Not applicable (descriptive page) - Limitations: Patient-information pages. Both pages say diabetes without separating type 1 from type 2, so this atlas does not claim the statement is specific to type 2 diabetes. The pages give no size of the risk. - Supports: NIDDK: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) (Webpage, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health) . Locator: Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease, para 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. - Supports: MedlinePlus health topic: Chronic Kidney Disease (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: Summary, para 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 50. NIDDK: Chronic Kidney Disease Tests & Diagnosis (Webpage, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health) . Locator: What tests do doctors use to diagnose and monitor kidney disease?, para 1. Retrieved 2026-10-15. 51. NIDDK: Chronic Kidney Disease Tests & Diagnosis (Webpage, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health) . Locator: What tests do doctors use to diagnose and monitor kidney disease?, para 1, list item 2. Retrieved 2026-10-15. 52. NIDDK: Chronic Kidney Disease Tests & Diagnosis (Webpage, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health) . Locator: What tests do doctors use to diagnose and monitor kidney disease?, para 2. Retrieved 2026-10-15. 53. MedlinePlus medical test: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What is a hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test?, para 5. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 54. Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 2, fragment 2 of 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 55. Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 2, fragment 3 of 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 56. Dapagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 1, fragment 1 of 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 57. Dapagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 1, fragment 2 of 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 58. Dapagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 1, fragment 3 of 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 59. Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 1, fragment 1 of 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 60. Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 1, fragment 2 of 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 61. Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 1, fragment 3 of 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 62. Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 1, fragment 4 of 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 63. Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 1, fragment 1 of 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 64. Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 1, fragment 2 of 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 65. Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 1, fragment 3 of 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 66. Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 1, fragment 4 of 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 67. Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 4, fragment 1 of 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 68. Dapagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 2, fragment 1 of 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 69. Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 3, fragment 2 of 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 70. Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 2, fragment 2 of 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 71. Claim `cardio:claim-fidelio-dkd-kidney-effect`: In FIDELIO-DKD, 5734 patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes, all on maximum tolerated renin-angiotensin system blockade, were randomly assigned to finerenone or placebo. During a median follow-up of 2.6 years, the primary outcome (kidney failure, a sustained decrease of at least 40% in eGFR from baseline, or death from renal causes) occurred in 504 of 2833 patients (17.8%) on finerenone and 600 of 2841 (21.1%) on placebo (hazard ratio 0.82; 95% CI 0.73 to 0.93; P=0.001). The key secondary outcome (death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal heart attack, nonfatal stroke or hospitalization for heart failure) occurred in 367 patients (13.0%) and 420 (14.8%) (hazard ratio 0.86; 95% CI 0.75 to 0.99; P=0.03). Overall adverse events were similar in the two groups, but stopping the trial regimen because of high potassium (hyperkalemia) was more frequent on finerenone, 2.3% against 0.9%. - Applies to: Patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes who had a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio of 30 to below 300, an eGFR of 25 to below 60 and diabetic retinopathy, or a ratio of 300 to 5000 and an eGFR of 25 to below 75. All were treated with renin-angiotensin system blockade adjusted to the maximum label dose they tolerated.; Multicenter trial. The care setting is not described further in the sources read.; Multinational. The registry lists the sites by country on the study page.; Adults aged 18 years or older (registry minimum age 18 years). Follow-up: Median follow-up 2.6 years. - Limitations: Participants had to be on renin-angiotensin system blockade and had diabetic kidney disease, so the result does not cover people without diabetes or without that blockade. Funded by Bayer (named in the abstract). Only the PubMed abstract was read. - Supports: Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. - Supports: Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. - Supports: Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 3; Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. - Supports: Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, CONCLUSIONS, sentence 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. - Background: Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, BACKGROUND, sentence 1; Abstract, METHODS, sentence 4; Abstract, METHODS, sentence 5. Retrieved 2026-10-14. - Background: Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, CONCLUSIONS, sentence 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 72. Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 73. Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 3, fragment 1 of 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 74. Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 3, fragment 2 of 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 75. Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 1, fragment 1 of 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 76. Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 1, fragment 2 of 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 77. Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 4, fragment 2 of 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 78. Effect of Finerenone on Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 4. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 79. Dapagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 5. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 80. Dapagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 81. Dapagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 2, fragment 1 of 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 82. Dapagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 2, fragment 2 of 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 83. Dapagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 2, fragment 2 of 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 84. Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 85. Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, CONCLUSIONS, sentence 1, fragment 1 of 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 86. Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 87. Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 2, fragment 1 of 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 88. Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 2, fragment 2 of 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 89. Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 90. Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 1, fragment 1 of 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 91. Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 1, fragment 2 of 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 92. Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 2, fragment 1 of 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 93. Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, RESULTS, sentence 2, fragment 1 of 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 94. Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (Publication, The New England journal of medicine) . Locator: Abstract, METHODS, sentence 2, fragment 3 of 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 95. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: Will I need to do anything to prepare for these tests?, para 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 96. MedlinePlus medical test: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and GFR Tests (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: Why do I need a GFR test?, para 8, list item 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 97. MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?, para 1, list item 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 98. MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 5. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 99. MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: What do the results mean?, para 6. Retrieved 2026-10-14. 100. MedlinePlus medical test: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (Webpage, U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)) . Locator: Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?, para 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14. ## About this guide - Written for: Adults with diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease, and the people with them - What it covers: Written from three MedlinePlus test pages, one NIDDK page on kidney disease tests and the abstracts of four published trials. It describes what these sources say and gives no advice for one person. - Pages it explains: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (`cardio:egfr`); Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) (`cardio:uacr`); HbA1c blood test (`cardio:hba1c`); Chronic kidney disease (CKD) (`cardio:chronic-kidney-disease`); Type 2 diabetes (`cardio:type-2-diabetes`); Finerenone (`cardio:finerenone`); Dapagliflozin (`cardio:dapagliflozin`); Empagliflozin (`cardio:empagliflozin`); Semaglutide (`cardio:semaglutide`); FIDELIO-DKD: finerenone and kidney outcomes in type 2 diabetes (`cardio:fidelio-dkd`); DAPA-CKD: dapagliflozin in chronic kidney disease (`cardio:dapa-ckd`); EMPA-KIDNEY: empagliflozin in a broad range of chronic kidney disease (`cardio:empa-kidney`); FLOW: semaglutide and kidney outcomes in type 2 diabetes with chronic kidney disease (`cardio:flow-trial`) - Sources checked: 2026-10-15 - Next check due: 2027-04-15 - Estimated reading grade: 8.9 (target 9) Every sentence cites a source. Words in quotation marks are the source's own; the rest is the atlas's summary. ## Provenance Content hash: 6e7fffd2d4d43823cbc818ec1ba576a6ef0267a40813c44c8d91997ef259dcae Last substantive edit: 2026-10-15 Evidence last checked: 2026-10-15