VIA: National Kidney Disease Education Program
Take the first step and talk to your doctor or nurse about your kidneys. Ask if you should be tested for kidney disease.
Risk factors for kidney disease:
Diabetes (sometimes called “sugar”) and high blood pressure are the leading causes of kidney disease. High blood pressure and diabetes can damage your kidneys over time, without you knowing it. People with diabetes and high blood pressure need to get tested regularly for kidney disease.
You are also at risk for kidney disease if:
- your doctor has said you have protein in your urine (protein can leak into the urine when the kidneys are not working well).
- you have heart (cardiovascular) disease;
- your mother, father, sister, or brother has kidney disease; or
African Americans are at high risk for kidney failure. In large part, this is due to higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure in the African American community, although there may be other reasons.
If you have any of these risk factors, talk to your doctor about getting tested for kidney disease.
Take these steps to protect your kidneys:
1. Keep your kidneys healthy by managing your diabetes and high bloodpressure. Youcandothisby: n
eating healthy, staying active, and taking medicines as prescribed.
2. Ask your doctor or nurse to test your blood and urine for kidney disease.
3. If you have kidney disease, talk to your doctor or nurse about treatmentoptions. Medicines called ACE inhibitors and ARBs can help keep your kidneys healthier longer.
