Renal Effects of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Narrative Review of Mechanisms and Clinical Evidence

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remains a major cause of advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular (CV) mortality, despite optimization of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade and the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are cardiometabolic agents with significant efficacy on glycemic control, body weight, blood pressure (BP), lipid profile, and systemic inflammation. In experimental studies, GLP-1 RAs showed direct renal effects by modulating natriuresis, intrarenal hemodynamics, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and tubular apoptosis. Randomized clinical trials and real-life analyses have demonstrated reductions in albuminuria and slowing of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline. The first study with a primary renal endpoint for semaglutide confirms its nephroprotective potential. This narrative review synthesizes the renal mechanisms involved. The clinical evidence for GLP-1 RA in DKD positions this class alongside SGLT2i and non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (ns-MRAs) for the management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), CKD, and very high cardiorenal risk.