Early kidney disease doesn't have symptoms, so testing is the only way to know how your kidneys are working. It's important for you to get tested for kidney disease if you have the key risk factors – diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular (heart) disease, or a family history of kidney failure.
A blood test and a urine test are used to check for kidney disease.
- The blood test helps to measure your GFR. GFR stands for glomerular (glow-MAIR-you-lure) filtration rate. GFR measures how much blood your kidneys filter each minute.
GFR is reported as a number.
- A GFR of 60 or higher is in the normal range.
- A GFR below 60 may mean you have kidney disease.
- A GFR of 15 or lower may mean kidney failure.
You can’t raise your GFR, but you can try to keep it from going lower. Learn more about what you can do to keep your kidneys healthy.
- The urine test looks for high amounts of protein or albumin, a specific type of protein. Albumin is too big to pass through a healthy kidney. If your kidneys are damaged, albumin can pass into the urine. You can’t see or feel albumin in your urine. So, a urine albumin test is important.
In general, the less albumin in your urine, the better. Your provider may give you medicines to lower the amount of albumin in your urine and to keep your kidneys healthy.
When to Get Tested
The earlier kidney disease is found, the earlier it can be treated. See below to find out how often you should get checked for kidney disease if you are at risk.
If you have… |
Get your kidneys checked… |
Type 1 Diabetes |
Every year, starting five years after diabetes diagnosis |
Type 2 Diabetes |
Every year |
Other Risk Factors (cardiovascular disease, family history) |
Regularly – talk to your provider about how often |
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