The number one cause of kidney disease is diabetes. Understanding this connection is the first step to helping avoid kidney problems. Kidney disease affects one in seven adults in the U.S. The Living with Diabetes, Kidney Care initiative, supported in part by DaVita, can help you improve your lifestyle to manage your health.
Where are you in your journey? Approximately 1 in 3 adults with diabetes has chronic kidney disease (CKD).[1] Because the symptoms of CKD are often mild and go undetected, it’s critical to understand the risk factors and take necessary steps to protect your health. We are here to help you!
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I'm living with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
I'm diagnosed with late-stage kidney disease
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Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of CKD. Here are some helpful ways to lower your risk and prevent CKD.
Understand the causes and risks for and learn the answers to some common questions.
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease. High blood glucose (blood suger) levels can damage blood vessels and lead to decreased kidney function.
High blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney disease. High blood pressure can hurt blood vessels and increase stress on the kidneys.
While kidney disease isn't contagious, it can run in families. If you have a family member who has diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease, you may be at risk.
Smoking can affect blood flow and blood pressure. It increase the risk of kidney disease, especially for people with diabetes and/or high blood pressure.
Learn more about proper management of diabetes
There are things you can do that may help slow down kidney disease. Start by managing diabetes and making your life easier at the same time. Learn quick, easy ways to simplify your daily routine.
Most insurance companies cover a 90-day supply of medication. That means fewer trips to the pharmacy. Talk with your pharmacist to coordinate your meds to refill them all at once.
Keep medical information and supplies in one place for easy access. Having all these important materials in one place makes it easier to prep for doctor’s visits and reordering supplies.
Whether you want to have groceries delivered or want to pick them up, shopping online can help limit impulse purchases. And it can help make sure you have all the healthy foods you need.
Fewer people are outside in the mornings, making it a great time for a relaxing workout and to start your day off right. Morning walks can improve memory and cognition in older adults.
Stage 4 or stage 5 of chronic kidney disease means the kidneys are losing more of their function. Get helpful information on how to manage late-stage kidney disease.
Here is some expert advice from nephrologists that can help you manage advanced CKD along with five things to discuss with your doctor.
Know Your Options
Home dialysis comes in two different forms, peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis. Both options offer freedom and flexibility by doing treatment in the comfort of your home.
Dialysis centers provide hemodialysis treatments by trained professionals. Many people choose in-center dialysis for the peace of mind of a clinic setting.
If living in a nursing home or skilled nursing facility, residents may be able to receive onsite dialysis instead of travelling to a center for treatment.
A transplant can be an ideal treatment option for those eligible. After a successful transplant, people do not have to perform dialysis for many years.
Discover the latest clinical practice recommendations and learn more about the management of diabetic kidney disease with our primary care professional resources below.
This collection provides an abridged version of the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA’s) Standards of Care in Diabetes—2024 designed especially for primary care professionals.
View our key resources for your journey.
Change up your mealtime routine! Get access to all of DaVita's free kidney diet cookbooks, recipes and tips when you register for a myDaVita account.
Use this placemat as your action plan for diabetes and kidney friendly meals. This Meal Planning Guide was developed for individuals who are not on dialysis.
Get information on how to lower your risk of chronic kidney disease. Kidney Smart is a no-cost kidney education class from DaVita delivered by trusted experts.
Check out the latest infographic for people living with diabetes. This provides a visual guide of risk factors for developing CKD and how health care professional diagnose CKD.
DaVita is a health care community focused on transforming care delivery to improve quality of life for patients living with chronic kidney disease. As one of the largest providers of kidney care services in the U.S., DaVita is a leader in clinical quality and innovation, particularly for those living with chronic kidney disease. Both DaVita and the American Diabetes Association believe in the importance of healthy living for those with diabetes, prediabetes, chronic kidney disease and their families.
