Chronic kidney disease, also known as chronic renal failure, is a progressive condition that eventually leads to kidney failure. People with chronic kidney disease may need dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay healthy.
Those living with a chronic kidney condition may not think they need a medical bracelet, especially if they are successfully managing it. However, in an emergency, first responders and emergency care professionals will need to know how to care for you – so that you receive the best possible care, at the moment you need it.
One thing you shouldn’t worry about is what could happen if there’s an emergency. MedicAlert’s protection plans offer benefits that extend beyond the ID, providing safety and peace of mind for people living with kidney disease.
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The kidneys play a crucial role in the body – they filter the blood, keeping some compounds while removing others, control the production of red blood cells, make vitamins that control growth, release hormones that help regulate blood pressure, help regulate blood pressure, red blood cells, and the amount of certain nutrients in the body, such as calcium and potassium. The kidneys also remove waste and excess fluid from the body.
Chronic kidney disease, also known as chronic renal failure, is a progressive condition that eventually leads to kidney failure. People with chronic kidney disease may need dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay healthy.
Stage 1 chronic kidney disease means someone has a normal eGFR of 90 or greater and mild kidney damage. Kidneys are still working well and may not show any symptoms. Or there may be less obvious signs of kidney damage like protein in the urine.
An eGFR in the range of 60–89 essentially means a person has mild loss of kidney function. Similar to stage 1, there may be few indications, though a person is likelier to start developing issues like high blood pressure, swelling in legs, urinary tract infections, and an abnormal urine test.
Mild to moderate loss of kidney function is indicated by an eGFR between 45-59. In this range the possible symptoms may include changes in urination, swelling in hands and feet, weakness or fatigue, dry and itchy skin, back pain, muscle cramping.
Moderate to severe loss of kidney function is indicated by an eGFR between 30-44. In this range the possible symptoms may include changes in urination, swelling in hands and feet, weakness or fatigue, dry and itchy skin, back pain, muscle cramping.
Moderate to severe loss of kidney function is indicated by an eGFR between 15-29. Possible symptoms related to this degree of kidney damage may also include anemia, decreased appetite, bone disease, abnormal levels of phosphorus, calcium, vitamin D.
Moderate to severe loss of kidney function is indicated by an eGFR below 15. Possible symptoms related to this degree of kidney damage may also include uremia, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, abnormal thyroid levels, swelling in hands/legs/eyes/lower back, and lower back pain.
Medical-alert accessories, typically a bracelet, serve to transmit critical information about CKD to a health care provider, especially when the wearer is not able to reliably communicate.
Many chronic kidney disease symptoms are difficult to notice until they become severe, as there may be many possible causes. Symptoms like fatigue and difficulty sleeping or concentrating can be attributed to many other issues in everyday life.
However, other symptoms, like frequent urination at night, swollen feet or ankles, puffy eyes, and dry skin that feels scaly are more unusual and sometimes cause people to search for solutions. Once kidney disease is suspected, a doctor can perform kidney function tests, which may involve blood and urine tests, imaging, and/or a biopsy.
High blood pressure can narrow and constrict blood vessels, eventually damaging and weakening vessels throughout the body. The narrowing reduces blood flow throughout the body, and this reduction in flow affects the kidneys and their function.
If blood vessels in one’s kidneys are damaged, the kidneys are not able to remove extra fluid and wastes from your body. Extra fluid in the blood vessels can raise your blood pressure even more, creating a dangerous cycle leading to more possible kidney damage or failure.
MedicAlert offers free custom engraving on all our kidney disease bracelets and other medical ID products. The engraving on your medical ID for kidney disease should include any critical medical information that can protect and save your life if you are in an accident or have a medical emergency, for example:
Sample engraving. Consult our team if you need help engraving your medical ID for kidney disease.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for chronic kidney disease. However, medications may be prescribed to help manage symptoms like excessive swelling from fluid buildup. High blood pressure medication might also be prescribed.
Once kidney disease progresses, dialysis (artificial filtration of the blood) is typically necessary. Ideally, those with end-stage renal disease will receive a kidney transplant. Only one kidney is necessary for the body’s normal functions, so live donation is an option.
As with any medical condition, you should consult your doctor for specific instructions on managing your condition.
You’ll likely see a few different medical abbreviations used to discuss kidney disease during the diagnostic process. Some of the most common include:
The term “chronic” is used to distinguish damage to kidneys occurring slowly over a long period of time.
Chronic kidney disease happens when a condition or disease impairs kidney function, causing kidney damage to worsen over several months or years.
Diseases and conditions that can lead to chronic kidney disease include:
End-stage renal failure, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), is the final stage of chronic kidney disease. This is when kidney function has declined to the point that the kidneys can no longer function on their own. Someone with end-stage renal failure must receive dialysis or kidney transplantation in order to survive for more than a few weeks.
Glomerulonephritis is a type of kidney disease that involves damage to the glomeruli (tiny filters) inside one’s kidneys. With glomerulonephritis, kidneys can have trouble removing waste and fluid. If the condition becomes severe, it can lead to kidney failure.
There can be acute glomerulonephritis or chronic glomerulonephritis. Some people can have an acute attack and then a chronic condition years later.
Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder that causes many cysts to grow in the kidneys. PKD cysts cause problems with blood vessels in the brain and heart, as well as high blood pressure. Cysts in the liver can also occur with PKD.
PKD affects people of all ages, races, and ethnicities worldwide. The disorder occurs equally in women and men. PKD is one of the most common genetic disorders. PKD affects about 500,000 people in the United States.
Autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD) is usually diagnosed in adulthood, whereas autosomal recessive PKD (ARPKD) can be diagnosed during pregnancy or shortly after a baby is born.
Diabetes is the most frequent cause of chronic kidney disease in most of the industrialized world. Kidney disease in people with diabetes can be caused by multiple factors, including diabetic changes in the kidneys as well as vascular changes due to hypertension. People with diabetes have high blood glucose which can damage the kidneys and lead to kidney disease.
When people are diagnosed with diabetes, they may already have hypertension, which is an additional risk factor for diabetic kidney disease because high blood pressure also damages the kidneys.
With DKD it can be particularly important to have medical IDs for kidney disease with ‘DKD’ included in order to make sure you receive the most helpful medical attention as quickly as possible.
The kidneys are each about the size of a fist and located on either side of the spine just below the rib cage. Their main function is to filter and remove waste, minerals and fluid from the blood by producing urine.
A kidney transplant is a surgery to place a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor into a person whose kidneys no longer function properly.
When kidneys lose the ability to filter, harmful levels of waste and fluid accumulate in the body, which tends to raise blood pressure and result in kidney failure (end-stage renal disease). This set of conditions calls for either ongoing dialysis or kidney transplant.
It is best to explore transplant before someone needs to start dialysis. This way you might be able to get a transplant ‘pre-emptively,’ before needing dialysis.
If you or a loved one does require dialysis, it’s a good idea to have a dialysis bracelet –that is, adding “dialysis” to an existing or new medical ID. This drastically improves positive outcomes for anyone who may experience a medical emergency.
There is a long involved process before the procedure itself, including matching and finding a proper donor.
For the procedure itself, a kidney transplant is done under general anesthesia. The anesthetic will be delivered to your body through an IV line in your hand or arm.
Once you’re unconscious, an incision is made in the abdomen and the donor kidney is placed inside. The surgeon then connects the arteries and veins from the kidney to your arteries and veins.
Also the new kidney’s ureter will be attached to your bladder so that you’re able to urinate normally.
There are many variables, especially the related health conditions of the person. Since kidney transplant doesn’t resolve underlying issues, for many people, those issues continue to cause problems in the kidneys.
People can live for many years after receiving a transplanted kidney and you should not think that averages are a prognosis. That said, on average, a kidney from a living donor tends to last about 12 to 20 years, while a kidney from a deceased donor tends to last about eight to 12 years.
Many people with kidney disease who are going through or have gone through the transplant process wear medical IDs for kidney disease and/or organ transplant, to help ensure they receive the most appropriate medical care in time-sensitive emergencies.
Whether your kidney disease has not yet progressed or you’re on dialysis and hoping for a transplant, you would benefit from a medical ID bracelet now and even after a kidney transplant.
After you get a kidney transplant, wearing a kidney is very important. With any organ transplant, you’ll likely be on anti-rejection medications, which can suppress your immune system. It’s always important for emergency professionals to know your transplant status, the medications you’re taking and your complete medical history. A kidney transplant bracelet is the perfect tool to keep you protected after your surgery.
If you normally receive kidney dialysis at an outpatient center, it’s important that you plan ahead for disasters and emergencies that might make it difficult or impossible to keep up with your kidney dialysis treatment. Having an emergency action plan in place can help lessen the stress and worry that comes with reacting to an emergency.
It’s best to complete and have on-hand a patient ID card. Such a card is meant to help you organize and communicate basic information about yourself and your dialysis prescription to first responders and a receiving dialysis treatment facility, but shouldn’t replace medical records and other ID cards you may also need to bring with you.
In addition to the information on the ID card, write down these important phone numbers:
If you have to miss a treatment, follow the Kidney Community Emergency Response 3-Day Emergency Diet.
While this diet does not replace dialysis, it can help reduce the amount of waste that builds up in your blood. Here’s what you need to do:
Some dialysis patients take medication to help control the level of potassium in their blood. It’s a good idea to have an extra emergency dose set aside for a week or more. You can also talk to your doctor or pharmacist about creating an emergency supply of prescription medications.
Those living with a chronic kidney condition may not think they need a kidney disease bracelet, especially if they are successfully managing it. However, in an emergency, first responders and emergency care professionals will need to know how to care for you – so that you receive the best possible care, at the moment you need it.
