Have you been checked for
kidney disease?
Diabetes and high blood pressure
can damage your kidneys and lead
to kidney disease.
Early kidney disease has no signs
or symptoms. The only way to
know if you have kidney disease
is to get checked.
Kidney disease does not go away.
It may get worse over time and
can lead to kidney failure. If the
kidneys fail, the only options are
dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Kidney disease can be treated.
The sooner you know you have it,
the sooner you can take steps to
keep your kidneys healthy longer.
![You have two kidneys located near the center of your back. Their main job is to filter waste and extra water from the blood and make urine. When the kidneys are damaged, waste can build up in the body.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090507063003im_/http://www.nkdep.nih.gov/images/genPopKidniesPict.jpg) |
You have two kidneys located near
the center of your back. Their main
job is to filter waste and extra water
from the blood and make urine.
When the kidneys are damaged,
waste can build up in the body. |
Risk factors for kidney disease
Diabetes and high blood pressure are
the leading causes of kidney disease.
Diabetes and high blood pressure
can damage your kidneys over time,
without you knowing it. These
conditions cause about 70 percent
of kidney failure cases.
You are also at risk for kidney
disease if you have:
- heart disease or
- a mother, father, sister, or
brother with kidney disease
If you have any of these risk factors,
get checked for kidney disease.
Two tests for kidney disease
- A blood test measures your
GFR, which tells you how
well your kidneys are working.
GFR stands for glomerular
(glow-MAIR-you-lure)
filtration rate.
- A urine test measures the amount
of protein in your urine. Protein
can leak into the urine when the
kidneys are not working well.
Make sure you know:
- your GFR
- if you have protein in
your urine
- your blood pressure
- your blood glucose
Take these steps to keep
your kidneys healthy
Manage your diabetes and keep
your blood pressure below
130/80 mmHg.
- Eat healthy and cut back on salt
- Be active
- Take medicines as prescribed
- Get blood and urine tests to
check for kidney disease.
- Ask your provider about blood
pressure medicines that can help
slow down kidney disease.
For more information
National Kidney Disease Education
Program (NKDEP)
Toll free at 1-866-4 KIDNEY
(1-866-454-3639)
www.nkdep.nih.gov
National Diabetes Education Program
Toll free at 1-800-438-5383
www.ndep.nih.gov
National High Blood Pressure
Education Program
1-301-592-8573
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/nhbpep
To order this brochure, call
1-866-4 KIDNEY (1-866-454-3639)
or visit www.nkdep.nih.gov/resources.
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