Keep Your Kidneys Healthy

If you are at risk for kidney disease, the most important steps you can take to keep your kidneys healthy are:
Get your blood and urine checked for kidney disease.
Manage your diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
If tests show kidney disease, there are blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors and ARBs that you can take to protect your kidneys. These medicines can help your kidneys even if you don’t have high blood pressure. Learn more about treating kidney disease
Tips for People with Diabetes
Get your blood and urine checked for kidney disease
For type 2 diabetes, get tested every year
For type 1 diabetes, get tested every year starting five years after you were diagnosed with diabetes
Keep your blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg
Aim for your blood glucose targets as often as you can.
When you wake up and before meals: 70 to 130
Two hours after starting to eat a meal: Under 180
Keep your cholesterol levels in the target range
Take your medicines as prescribed
Eat healthy and cut back on salt
Be physically active
For more information on managing diabetes, visit the National Diabetes Education Program.
Tips for People with High Blood Pressure or Heart Disease
Get your blood and urine checked for kidney disease
Keep your blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg
Maintain your ideal weight
Eat healthy
Choose fruits, vegetables, grains, and low-fat dairy foods
Limit your daily sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams (mg) or lower
Be physically active
Limit your alcohol and caffeine intake
Take all medicines as prescribed – there are blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors and ARBs that also protect your kidneys
Aim for your blood glucose targets as often as you can if you have diabetes
See your health care provider as directed
-From http://www.nkdep/nih.gov/patients/healthy