German Summit Reveals New Heart & Kidney Wins for Diabetics

German Research Summit Highlights Breakthrough Diabetes Drug Findings

A study from Germany published in Cardiovascular Diabetology (2024) summarizes the findings of the 9th Cardiovascular Outcome Trial (CVOT) Summit, a major international congress held in late 2023. Organized by the Forschergruppe Diabetes e.V. at the Helmholtz Center Munich, this annual gathering brings together cardiologists, kidney specialists, endocrinologists, and primary care doctors from around the world to review the latest large-scale clinical trials in diabetes care.

What Makes This International Perspective Unique?

Unlike most single-institution US studies, this summit synthesizes data from multiple international mega-trials, giving it a uniquely global viewpoint. The CVOT Summit specifically focuses on outcomes — meaning it tracks real-world endpoints like heart attacks, hospitalizations, and death — rather than just blood sugar numbers. This broader lens is something US guidelines are increasingly adopting, but European and international bodies have prioritized it for longer.

What the Major Trials Found

• Dapagliflozin (DAPA-MI): This SGLT2 inhibitor — sold in the US as Farxiga — showed benefits for patients who recently had a heart attack, even those without diabetes. This is a significant expansion of who may benefit from this drug class.
• Semaglutide (SELECT and STEP-HFpEF): Semaglutide — known in the US as Ozempic (injectable) and Wegovy (weight loss) — reduced major cardiovascular events in people with obesity but without diabetes, and separately showed it can improve a type of heart failure called heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a condition notoriously difficult to treat.
• Bempedoic Acid (CLEAR Outcomes): This cholesterol-lowering drug showed it can reduce cardiovascular risk in statin-intolerant patients — a meaningful option for the many Americans who cannot tolerate statins due to muscle pain.

Kidney Disease and Diabetes: A Growing Focus

The summit highlighted important advances in treating chronic kidney disease (CKD) in people with diabetes. SGLT2 inhibitors continue to demonstrate strong kidney-protective effects, and a newer drug class called non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (nsMRAs) — such as finerenone (Kerendia) — is emerging as an additional tool. This aligns with updated 2024 American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines, which now emphasize kidney protection as a primary treatment goal alongside blood sugar management.

CGM, Diversity in Trials, and Personalized Care

The summit also stressed that continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology — devices like the Dexcom G7 or Freestyle Libre, familiar to many US patients — is a key tool for managing diabetes alongside heart and kidney conditions. Importantly, researchers raised a critical concern: most major trials still lack sufficient representation from diverse racial and ethnic groups, meaning findings may not apply equally to all American patients.

Why This Matters for US Patients

These international findings directly support what US doctors are increasingly recommending: that diabetes treatment should go far beyond blood sugar control. If you have diabetes and also have heart disease, kidney disease, or obesity, newer drug classes may offer significant protection. Talk to your doctor about whether SGLT2 inhibitors or GLP-1 medications are right for you — and ask about CGM options to better track your glucose trends between visits.

At mdsdiabetes.com, MDS Diabetes offers resources to help you understand these newer medication classes and how tools like CGM fit into a comprehensive diabetes management plan.

Full Citation

Schnell, Barnard-Kelly, Battelino (2024). CVOT Summit Report 2023: new cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic outcomes. Cardiovascular Diabetology. PMID: 38504284. DOI: 10.1186/s12933-024-02180-8. [Country of Origin: Germany]