Talking to Your Family About Kidney Disease

• Why should my family know about kidney disease?
• What should I tell my family about kidney disease?
• How can I help my family prevent kidney failure?
• T.E.S.T. your family members
• Where can I get more information?

Why should my family know about kidney disease?

• Kidney disease runs in families.
• Even if only one person in a family has kidney failure, all blood relatives should be tested for kidney disease.
• With early treatment, kidney disease can be slowed and dialysis or a transplant may be avoided.

What should I tell my family about kidney disease?

• Diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of kidney failure.
• Managing your blood sugar and blood pressure may help the kidneys stay healthy.
• Get tested for kidney disease because it runs in families.
• Blood and urine tests are the only way to find out if you have kidney disease because there are no early warning signs.
• Finding kidney disease early and treating it can slow kidney damage and may prevent kidney failure.

How can I help my family prevent kidney failure?

Tell your family members to talk to their doctors about getting tested for kidney disease. Doing this may be difficult, but it can help save their lives.

T.E.S.T. your family members

• Teach them that kidney disease runs in families.
• Encourage them to get tested for kidney disease.
• Support their efforts to manage their diabetes and high blood pressure.
• Tell them where they can find more information.

Where can I get more information?

NKDEP provides free educational materials and resources for patients and their families.