September 24, 2025
The recent 2025 Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), held in Vienna, Austria, on 19-22 September, highlighted breakthroughs that could transform the management of diabetes and its complications worldwide. Over four days, researchers presented findings that point to earlier, smarter, and more personalised care—especially for those at higher risk of cardiovascular and kidney disease.
The expanding benefits of semaglutide
One of the standout findings came from studies on semaglutide. This GLP-1 receptor agonist continues to demonstrate benefits beyond blood glucose control. New data showed that semaglutide reduced major adverse limb events by 30% in people with type 2 diabetes. This result builds on its well-established cardiovascular benefits. In the SOUL trial, oral semaglutide also significantly reduced the risk of heart failure or cardiovascular death, with the greatest impact seen in people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
The dual therapy CagriSema, combining cagrilintide and semaglutide, also made headlines. In the REDEFINE trials, it led to weight loss of 15% or more in 70% of people without diabetes and in over half of those with type 2 diabetes. The weight reduction was accompanied by improvements in cardiometabolic markers, including blood pressure and cholesterol, without raising safety concerns.
The power of early combination therapy
Another area drawing attention was the power of early combination therapy. Research presented showed that starting a four-drug regimen, by adding lobeglitazone and empagliflozin to existing treatment for type 2 diabetes, improves blood glucose levels and insulin resistance more effectively than gradual stepwise escalation. Importantly, this aggressive approach did not lead to more adverse events.
The idea of using multiple therapies simultaneously was reinforced by data on combining SGLT2 inhibitors with GLP-1 receptor agonists. A meta-analysis and trial data confirmed that these two drug classes work independently but additively, offering greater protection for both the heart and kidneys, especially in people at high cardiovascular risk.
New strategies for protecting kidney health
Kidney health was also in focus. Results from the CONFIDENCE trial revealed that initiating finerenone and empagliflozin together in people with diabetes and kidney disease improved health outcomes, including reduced albuminuria, a marker of kidney damage. This benefit was particularly notable in Asian populations and supports the idea of a four-pillar treatment strategy for managing chronic kidney disease.
Even in real-world settings, SGLT2 inhibitors proved their value. A study of over 9,000 people with diabetes on glucocorticoid therapy found those using SGLT2 inhibitors had fewer kidney complications and a lower risk of death compared to those on DPP-4 inhibitors, with no new safety issues identified.
Personalised treatment and early intervention
Other findings pointed to the importance of individualised treatment. For example, semaglutide at higher doses helped people with obesity gain better control over eating habits. And data showed that women experience greater weight loss from GLP-1 therapies than men, even though both genders saw equal benefits in blood glucose and cholesterol control.
Experts at EASD2025 also raised concerns about intermediate glycaemia, or prediabetes, which significantly increases cardiovascular risk, even before a diabetes diagnosis. This risk makes a strong case for early intervention through lifestyle changes and metformin or GLP-1-based treatments.
Taken together, these findings suggest the future of diabetes care lies in early, aggressive, and tailored strategies that go beyond glucose control—targeting heart, kidney, and metabolic health as a whole.
