Chronic condition care
Kidney disease
We monitor and manage chronic kidney disease. Most kidney damage is caused by diabetes and high blood pressure, so the main work is controlling those tightly, reviewing medications that strain the kidneys, and tracking function over time so changes are caught early.
Come in if you have
- A blood or urine test showed reduced kidney function or protein in your urine
- You have diabetes or high blood pressure and have not had kidneys checked in a year
- Swelling in your ankles, feet or around your eyes
- You take anti-inflammatory painkillers regularly
- There is kidney disease in your family
What happens at your visit
- We check kidney function with a blood test and look for protein in your urine — both matter, and the urine test is often skipped elsewhere.
- We review every medication, including over-the-counter ones, for anything hard on the kidneys.
- We focus hard on blood pressure and blood sugar, because those determine how fast this progresses.
- We refer to a kidney specialist when the numbers warrant it — not too early, not too late.
The two causes that matter most
Diabetes and high blood pressure between them account for the large majority of chronic kidney disease. That is genuinely good news, because both are treatable — and controlling them well is the single most effective thing that slows kidney damage.
So a kidney appointment here is largely a blood pressure and blood sugar appointment. That is not avoiding the subject; it is treating the cause rather than watching the consequence.
Two tests, not one
Kidney function is assessed by a blood test (eGFR) and a urine test for protein. The urine test is frequently skipped, and it matters — protein can show up before blood results change, which means catching things earlier.
If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, both should be checked at least annually.
Medications are worth reviewing
Several common drugs are harder on kidneys than people realise, particularly regular anti-inflammatory painkillers. Some medications also need dose adjustments once kidney function drops, and those adjustments are often missed.
Bring everything you take, including anything from a pharmacy shelf.
Staging, and what it actually means
Kidney disease is staged 1 to 5. Being given a stage is alarming, and it is worth knowing that most people diagnosed early stay stable for many years and never progress to dialysis.
What determines that is largely within reach: blood pressure control, blood sugar control, avoiding kidney-unfriendly drugs, and regular monitoring so anything changing is caught while there is still something to do about it.
Common questions
- Does this mean I will need dialysis?
- For most people, no. Chronic kidney disease is staged, and the majority of people diagnosed at an early stage never progress to dialysis — particularly when blood pressure and diabetes are well controlled. Early diagnosis is what makes that difference.
- Which painkillers should I avoid?
- Regular use of ibuprofen, naproxen and similar anti-inflammatories is hard on the kidneys. Occasional use is usually fine; daily use is not. Tell us what you take, including anything bought over the counter, and we will suggest alternatives.
- Do I need a special diet?
- Often some adjustment, usually around salt and sometimes protein and potassium. It depends on your stage and your blood results, so we would rather advise on your actual numbers than have you follow generic internet advice that may not apply.
- Why check my urine if my blood test was fine?
- Protein in the urine can appear before blood tests change, so it is an earlier warning. Checking only blood misses people who could have been caught sooner.
This page explains how we care for this condition at our office. It is general information, not medical advice for your specific situation — please talk to us about your own care.
Ready to get this looked at?
Call us or send a request and we will get you in — often the same or next day.