How Can I Find Out If I Have Kidney Disease?
Kidney disease can be found or confirmed through lab tests. High blood levels of creatinine and urea or high levels of protein in your urine suggest kidney disease. Diabetics should have a yearly urine test for the presence of microalbumin and small amounts of protein that do not show up on standard urine protein tests.
If I Have Signs of Kidney Disease, What Should I Do?
After you have basic screening tests done, if you have signs of kidney disease, you should ask for a referral to a nephrologist, a specialist in treating kidney disease. A nephrologist will perform an evaluation and then suggest medications or lifestyle changes to help slow the progression of kidney disease.
Stages with kidney disease
With chronic kidney disease (CKD), the kidneys usually do not fail all at once. Instead, kidney disease often progresses slowly over a period of years. This is good news because if CKD is caught early, medicines and lifestyle changes may help slow its progress and keep you feeling your best for as long as possible. Kidney disease is divided into five stages, each of which calls for different tests and treatments.
Let DaVita assist you if you have any concerns regarding kidney disease symptoms.
