Kidney Health
Your kidneys filter waste and extra fluid from your blood. High blood pressure and diabetes are the leading causes of kidney problems, so managing those protects your kidneys too.
- Keep blood pressure and blood sugar in a healthy range.
- Drink water instead of sugary drinks.
- If you have kidney disease or a kidney transplant, do not take ibuprofen, naproxen, or other NSAID pain relievers unless your healthcare professional or transplant team says they are safe for you.
- Ask your healthcare professional whether you need both a blood eGFR test and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR). These tests work together to check kidney health.
Protein or albumin in the urine can be a sign that the kidneys need further evaluation. However, a home urine strip is a screening tool and cannot diagnose kidney disease.
Results may be affected by hydration, exercise, fever, infection, menstrual blood, medications, and testing technique.
If a home urine strip shows trace, positive, or an unexpected result, record the result and contact your healthcare team for instructions. A healthcare professional may order a laboratory urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR), an eGFR blood test, and repeat testing to confirm the result.
Follow the pathway: identify a possible risk, request or complete eGFR and uACR testing, review the results with a healthcare professional, explain the results back in your own words, and complete any recommended clinical or community-health-worker follow-up.
Do not change your medications, fluid intake, or diet based only on a home urine-strip result.
Call your healthcare team promptly for new swelling, a major decrease in urination, blood in the urine, persistent vomiting, or other concerning changes.