Support for members with chronic kidney disease

Each person’s body has its own response to built-up waste in the blood. Symptoms can include:

However, it can be hard to notice a difference in kidney function until the condition has progressed. That’s why many people with CKD don’t have symptoms. Or they have mild symptoms that are confused for other illnesses.

If your doctor thinks you might have CKD, they’ll want to see how well your kidneys are functioning. They’ll probably order tests like:

• Urinalysis – This initial test looks at the acidity (pH level), protein levels and trace blood level in your pee.
• Albumin test – This test checks for albumin, a type of protein. If it’s in your pee or you have an unusual amount in your blood, your kidneys might not be working properly.
• Creatinine test – This test measures the amount of creatinine, a waste product, in your blood. Your kidneys usually do a good job of filtering creatinine. So a high amount of it may signal an issue.
• Kidney biopsy – In some cases, your doctor might examine a sample of your kidney for inflammation, scarring and possible progress of kidney disease.

If your doctor diagnoses you with CKD, they can help you with taking the next steps towards treatment.

To slow ongoing damage to your kidneys, the key is to treat the health condition putting them under stress. For example, if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, your doctor and care team will help you get the treatments you need and make the right lifestyle adjustments. By improving your kidneys’ working conditions, these treatments can help keep them running longer.

In addition, your doctor might prescribe medicine to help treat your CKD. They might also recommend changes to what you eat, like limiting salt or protein. Being more active, quitting smoking, cutting back on alcohol and having a pharmacist take a closer look at the medicines you take can also help protect your kidneys.