Learning about your disease process
can help you participate in your care. We are dedicated to not only providing you with the right treatment, but also equipping you with the appropriate tools and resources.
Learn more about kidneys and their function, from detailed guides about treatment options to nutrition and prevention.
Learn more about infectious diseases (ID), from treatment options to prevention.
The kidney is an organ that is located near your back, just under your ribs. Most people have two kidneys. Your kidneys are responsible for many jobs, including cleaning your blood and making urine. They remove waste products, balance your body’s water, and work to keep your bones healthy, in addition to numerous other tasks.
Kidney disease is when the kidneys have lost some of their ability to carry out their tasks. There are many things that can damage your kidneys and negatively impact their ability to carry out their important tasks. Diabetes is a common cause of kidney disease, as is high blood pressure. Other causes include immune disease, blockages, or recurrent infections.
Good control of diabetes and high blood pressure are important for slowing progression of kidney disease. Sometimes, the cause of your kidney disease can be treated with medications. We can also help to treat problems that come along with declining kidney function, including bone disease and anemia.
Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can be important in treating kidney disease. Regular exercise is helpful.
Avoiding certain medications like NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) can be important in maintaining your kidney function.
Quitting smoking can help with kidney health, in addition to lung and heart health.
When kidney disease gets worse and your kidney function declines, waste products can build up in your blood. This can make you feel poorly. Other functions of the kidneys, like fluid balance and bone health, can get worse, too. When kidneys fail, this means that they are no longer working well enough to keep you healthy, or keep you alive.
If your kidney disease gets worse, it can lead to kidney failure (see above). Treatments that exist for kidney failure include kidney transplant and dialysis. We can help to prepare you for these treatments.
Some people choose not to have treatment for kidney failure. In this case, we work with you to ensure adequate management of symptoms, and help with the transition to hospice care when appropriate.
We will partner with you to identify the possible cause of your kidney disease, and determine what can be done to treat it. We will monitor your kidney function over time, with the goal of slowing progression of your kidney disease. We will educate you about your kidney disease, and help to prepare you for the future.
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR): Your glomerular filtration rate serves as a rough percentage of your remaining kidney function. It helps to determine where your kidney function is within the spectrum of kidney disease. It is checked with bloodwork at most appointments.
Creatinine: This is a waste product that is filtered by your kidneys. Measuring it helps to calculate your GFR.
Urinary Albumin/Protein: Sometimes with kidney disease, excess protein can be detected in your urine - this may be the first sign of kidney disease to be identified on routine lab work. We can measure this by taking a sample of your urine. We can work to decrease the amount of protein in your urine, which can potentially slow progression of your kidney disease.
Ultrasound: It is often helpful to assess the anatomy of your kidneys with an ultrasound. This is a non-invasive imaging study that helps us determine the size of your kidneys, look for changes, and look for additional causes of kidney disease.
Kidney Biopsy: Sometimes it can be useful to take a sample of tissue from your kidneys, in order to determine the cause of kidney disease, and determine what treatments could be used. This procedure is performed at a hospital by a kidney doctor or radiologist.
Click HERE to read and understand a nutrition label.
Sodium: Sodium is a mineral found in many foods, as well as in table salt. Too much sodium in your diet can contribute to high blood pressure. When your kidneys aren’t working as well as they should, too much sodium can also contribute to fluid retention, swelling, and shortness of breath. Limiting the sodium in your diet can help to lower your blood pressure, and can help to avoid fluid retention. A common goal is to aim for less than 2,000 mg of sodium per day. Familiarizing yourself with nutrition labels can be helpful in identifying the content of foods.
Download our Sodium Dietary Guide HERE.
Potassium: Potassium is a mineral found in many foods. In normal ranges, it contributes to appropriate function of your cells, particularly muscle cells. With severe kidney disease and kidney failure, the kidneys may lose their ability to balance the potassium in your body. In this case, potassium can build up in your body to a dangerous level, and can cause muscular dysfunction or even death. Familiarizing yourself with nutrition labels can be helpful in identifying the content of foods.
Download our Potassium Dietary Guide HERE.
Phosphorus: Phosphorus is a mineral found in your bones, as well as in many foods. In normal amounts, it can help keep your bones and body healthy. With severe kidney disease and kidney failure, the kidneys may lose their ability to balance the phosphorus in your body. Excess phosphorus can weaken your bones, and can cause calcification of your blood vessels, heart valves, and other tissues. Often, people with severe kidney disease or kidney failure need to take medications to “bind” the phosphorus in foods, to help your body get rid of it. Phosphorus is not listed as an amount on nutrition labels. It is necessary to review the ingredient list to identify sources of phosphorus.
Download our Phosphorus Dietary Guide HERE.
Protein: Our bodies need some amount of protein to maintain healthy function and nutrition. Protein byproducts are removed from the body by the kidneys. For patients with kidney disease, sometimes limiting the amount of dietary protein you take in can slow the decline in kidney function. Sometimes, we will help to identify a limit to how much protein you should consume on a daily basis.
Download our Protein Dietary Guide HERE.
Oxalate: The most common type of kidney stones are calcium oxalate stones. Oxalate is found in many foods in varying amounts. Limiting foods that are particularly high in oxalate may help to limit stone formation.
Download our Oxalate Dietary Guide HERE.
Purine: People with chronic kidney disease are at increased risk of developing gout. Kidney disease can contribute to higher uric acid levels, which in turn increases the risk for gout. If you have elevated uric acid levels or a history of gout, pursuing a diet that limits the amount of purine you take in can be helpful
Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease. Achieving good control of your diabetes is one of the most important things you can do to slow the progression of kidney disease. In order to achieve good control of diabetes, people often need to take medication as prescribed, monitor their nutrition closely, stay physically active, and maintain a healthy weight.
Good control of blood pressure can help to maintain kidney and heart health. For many people, the goal blood pressure is less than 130/80.
Download our Blood Pressure Log HERE.
It is important to know the medications you take (the name of the medication as well as the dose). This can help you stay involved in your health care. Many people keep a list of their medications, and bring it to each appointment.
Kidney transplant is one of the treatments available for people with kidney failure. With kidney transplant, a donated kidney is surgically placed inside your body, and takes over the functions that your kidneys can no longer do. A donated kidney can come from either a living donor, or a deceased donor. Some people receive a kidney transplant preemptively, in advance of when they would need to start dialysis. Other people receive a transplant after having been on dialysis for a period of time.
Dialysis may be necessary when your kidneys can no longer function well enough to keep you healthy, or keep you alive.
Peritoneal Dialysis: Peritoneal dialysis uses your inner abdominal lining (peritoneum) to clean your blood. A surgeon places a plastic tube in your abdominal cavity. During peritoneal dialysis, a volume of sterile fluid is placed inside your abdominal cavity, and then eventually drained out. This type of dialysis is done at home, and performed every day of the week.
Hemodialysis: Hemodialysis cleans your blood by filtering it through a special membrane. This type of dialysis can be done at home, or at a dialysis center. In order to get your blood to the dialysis filter, we need access to your blood vessels. Vascular access:
Arteriovenous fistula: This is the best type of vascular access for most people. A surgeon creates a connection between an artery and a vein, usually in your arm.
Arteriovenous graft: A graft is a piece of composite material. It can be used to make the connection between an artery and a vein, and is useful if your veins are too small.
Central venous catheter: A central venous catheter, or CVC, is useful when dialysis needs to be started quickly, or if neither of the other options is suitable for you.
Some people choose not to start dialysis, even when they are approaching kidney failure. We continue to work with patients to ensure adequate treatment of their kidney disease and its complications.
Palliative care is useful for patients with many different chronic illnesses, including kidney disease. They can work toward maintaining or improving quality of life, lessening the burden of symptoms associated with illness, and providing support for important decisions.
Hospice care focuses on quality of life for patients with a terminal illness, particularly when the end of life is near. This can help to ensure comfort and adequate management of symptoms when restorative care is no longer desired.
Davita Integrated Kidney Care (IKC) is a program that offers comprehensive care and disease management to patients in all stages of kidney disease. They partner with us, the kidney doctors and nurses, to provide specialized resources and services to our practice and patients. Our goal at InterMed Consultants, in partnering with Davita IKC, is to provide the best kidney care to help delay chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, ease the transition from CKD to end stage renal disease (ESRD), and optimize dialysis treatment if needed.
Comprehensive Kidney Care Contracting is the Medicare sponsored program of IKC. If you have Medicare Primary insurance, you might qualify for this program.
Village Health is the Blue Cross Blue Shield sponsored program of IKC. If you have Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial insurance, you might qualify for this program.
