How Can I Prevent Kidney Disease?

The key to prevention or delay of severe kidney disease is early detection and aggressive
intervention -- while there's still time to slow down the progression to kidney failure. Medical
care with early intervention can change the course of chronic kidney disease and help prevent
the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Diabetes and high blood pressure account for two thirds of all cases of chronic kidney disease.
By aggressively managing diabetes and high blood pressure with diet, exercise, and
medications , you may be able to prevent kidney failure and help keep as much kidney function
as possible.

Get Tested Regularly
At your next checkup, and at least within the next year
if you haven't had these tests done:
Ask for a urine test to see if you have excess protein, glucose, or blood in the urine .
Ask for a blood pressure reading, to see if your blood pressure is elevated.


Ask for a fasting blood glucose test, to see if you have too much glucose (sugar) in your
blood . Another blood test that can be used to determine diabetes is a hemoglobin A1C
which will indicate your average blood glucose level over the past two to three months.


Ask for a creatinine test. This blood test measures the amount of waste from muscle
activity. When the kidneys are not working properly, the creatinine rises.
If any of these tests are abnormal, your health care provider will need to do other tests to more
clearly define the problem.

control Diabetes
If you have diabetes, work with your health care provider to keep your blood sugar levels under
the best possible control. A program of diet, regular exercise, glucose monitoring, and
medications to control blood sugars and protect kidney function can help.

control High Blood Pressure
If you have high blood pressure, work with your health care provider to get your blood pressure
within target ranges. A program of diet, regular exercise, and medications can help.

consider Seeing a Nephrologist
If you've already lost some kidney function, or your health care provider tells you that you're
likely to have more kidney damage in the future, ask for a referral to a nephrologist (a kidney
disease specialist). A nephrologist can provide specialized testing, evaluate your condition, and
talk with you about possible ways to slow down the progress of kidney disease.