Identifying Risks/Testing
Lifestyle Support
When you visit your kidney specialist (nephrologist), they’ll run tests to evaluate your kidney function.
Your Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) is the most important measure, as it shows how well your kidneys filter your blood. Knowing your GFR helps your nephrologist determine which stage of kidney disease you’re in. From there, they’ll develop a treatment plan that works for you.
The five stages of GFR are:
- Stage 1: Normal kidney function (GFR > 90)
- Stage 2: Mild decrease (GFR 60-89)
- Stage 3: Moderate decrease (GFR 30-59)
- Stage 4: Severe decrease (GFR 15-29)
- Stage 5: Kidney failure (GFR <15)
Protecting Your Kidneys
Your kidneys perform critical functions essential to your health. They clean your blood, balance minerals, and produce hormones for strong bones and red blood cell production. If they don’t work well, waste can accumulate, blood pressure can rise, and you may retain excess fluid.
Several health conditions increase your risk of kidney problems:
- High blood pressure can damage the kidney vessels over time.
- Diabetes affects the filtering units in your kidneys.
- Being overweight puts additional strain on your kidneys.
Regularly observing these conditions helps protect your kidney health. If your kidneys do reach a point of failure, you need treatments like dialysis to take over their essential functions.
A kidney diagnosis can be overwhelming. Our healthcare team is here to support you with personalized, compassionate care. This includes dietary guidance from specialists who understand kidney health. We’re all on this journey together.
