Living with type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure?
You could have kidney disease without even knowing it. It takes 2 – you and a healthcare professional – to detect kidney disease and take steps to help reduce serious complications.
Ready to spot kidney disease?
Kidney disease by the numbers
Thelma’s Story
Most people who have kidney disease don't even know it. The condition often has no symptoms in its early stages, making it difficult to detect. For those at risk of kidney disease, particularly people with high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, talking to a doctor and advocating for complete testing is critical to determining the full picture of kidney health. Talk to a doctor and advocate for complete kidney disease testing
Thelma:
I’m Thelma, and I live with kidney disease.
Dr. Vega:
I’m Dr. Vega, and I’m a primary care physician who treats patients at risk of kidney disease.
Thelma:
Unknowingly, I began to lose kidney function, and was devastated after my diagnosis. Now, 20 years later, I want to share my story.
Dr. Vega:
People with kidney disease might go years without being diagnosed, because there can be no symptoms in the early stages. I encourage adults with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure to get screened for kidney disease since you’re at a higher risk.
Thelma:
Many people from underserved communities feel like they don’t have a voice about their health care. My story is proof that they do. You have to advocate for yourself and talk to your doctor. It takes two –you and your doctor – to help detect and manage kidney disease.
Dr. Vega:
If you’re at risk, partner with your doctor and ask about complete screening, including the urine test, UACR, for kidney disease to get the full picture of your kidney health.
Thelma:
Knowledge is power, and advocating for yourself is one step closer to achieving that.
According to the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), Black, Hispanic and Latin American communities are likely to have a greater incidence of risk factors for kidney disease and more barriers to accessing primary care.
As a result, when compared with white Americans, the USRDS found:
Could you be at risk for kidney disease and not know it?
People with kidney disease don't always experience symptoms in the early stages, but there are tests that can help detect the condition earlier. Answer one quick question below to assess your risk and learn how to request the tests from your healthcare professional.
Type 2 Diabetes
I’ve learned that approximately 1 in 3 adults with diabetes have kidney disease, a condition that often occurs without symptoms in its early stages. I want to partner with you in managing my kidney health. Could we check my kidney function with a UACR urine test and an eGFR blood test? I’d really like to stay ahead of any related complications, like cardiovascular disease.
Type 2 Diabetes and High Blood Pressure
I have both type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure and recognize that both these conditions are leading risk factors for kidney disease in the U.S. Knowing kidney disease can occur without symptoms in its early stages, I’d like to partner with you in managing my health and request the UACR urine and eGFR blood tests, which can also help determine the risk of any related complications, like cardiovascular disease. Can we include those in my next labs?
Type 2 Diabetes and Family History of Kidney Disease
Because I have type 2 diabetes and a family history of kidney-related conditions, I know I’m at greater risk for kidney disease. I’ve also learned that kidney disease can often occur without symptoms in its early stages. That’s why I want to partner with you in managing my kidney health and help catch any related complications, like cardiovascular disease, early. Could we check my kidney function with a UACR urine test and an eGFR blood test?
High Blood Pressure
I understand that high blood pressure can impact my kidneys over time – in fact, it’s a leading cause of kidney disease in the U.S. I want to partner with you in managing my health and help reduce the potential of developing related complications, like cardiovascular disease, down the road. Could we check my kidney function with a UACR urine test and eGFR blood test?
High Blood Pressure and Family History of Kidney Disease
I have high blood pressure and a family history of kidney-related conditions. I’ve since learned that high blood pressure is a leading cause of kidney disease in the U.S. Since early-stage kidney disease often has no symptoms, I’d like to partner with you in managing my kidney health and request the UACR urine and eGFR blood tests to check my kidney function and cardiovascular disease risk.
Cardiovascular Disease
I have cardiovascular disease and know that this can increase my risk for developing kidney disease. I want to partner with you in managing my kidney health and help reduce the risk of any related complications. As such, could we include the UACR urine test and eGFR blood test in my next labs to check how my kidneys are doing?
Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes
I have both cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and I understand that having these conditions can significantly increase my risk for developing kidney disease. Because early detection is key, I’d like to partner with you in managing my kidney health and help reduce the potential for related complications down the road. Could we check my kidney function with a UACR urine and eGFR blood test?
Cardiovascular Disease and High Blood Pressure
I have cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure, and I know that they increase my risk of developing kidney disease. I want to partner with you in managing my kidney health and ensure I’m catching the risk of any related complications early. As such, I would like to request the UACR urine and eGFR blood tests to check how my kidneys are functioning.
Cardiovascular Disease, High Blood Pressure and Type 2 Diabetes
Since I have cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure, I understand that I’m at a much higher risk of developing kidney disease. Knowing that the early stages of kidney disease often have no symptoms, I’d like to partner with you in managing my kidney health and request the UACR urine test and eGFR blood test. These tests can help assess my kidney function and guide the management of my kidney and heart health. Could we include these tests in my upcoming lab work?
Family History of Kidney Disease
Given my family history of kidney-related conditions, I understand that my own risk for kidney disease may be higher – especially since 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. is at risk for the condition. I also learned that certain kidney tests, like the UACR urine test, can help uncover potential cardiovascular risks. I’d like to partner with you in managing my health and request the UACR test in addition to the eGFR blood test to help detect kidney disease.
High Blood Pressure, Type 2 Diabetes and Family History of Kidney Disease
Since I have received a type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure diagnosis and have a family history of kidney-related conditions, I recognize that I’m at a greater risk for kidney disease. Knowing kidney disease can occur without symptoms in its early stages, I’d like to partner with you in managing my health and request the UACR urine and eGFR blood tests, which can also help determine the risk of cardiovascular disease. Can we include those in my next labs?
High Blood Pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Family History of Kidney Disease
Since I have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure, and also have a family history of kidney-related conditions, I recognize that I’m at a significantly greater risk for kidney disease. In fact, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure are leading risk factors for kidney disease. Cardiovascular disease is also a common risk factor for kidney disease.
Because kidney disease can develop silently without symptoms in its early stages, I want to partner with you in managing my health. I’d like to request the UACR urine test and eGFR blood test, which can help detect early kidney damage and also provide important information about my cardiovascular risk. Can we include these tests in my next labs?
Cardiovascular Disease and Family History of Kidney Disease
I have both cardiovascular disease and a family history of kidney disease, and I understand that both these factors can significantly increase my risk for developing kidney disease. Because early detection is key, I’d like to partner with you in managing my kidney health and help reduce the potential for related complications down the road. Could we check my kidney function with a UACR urine and eGFR blood test?
Cardiovascular Disease, High Blood Pressure and Family History of Kidney Disease
Since I have cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and a family history of kidney disease, I understand that I’m at a much higher risk of developing kidney disease myself. Knowing that the early stages of kidney disease often have no symptoms, I’d like to partner with you in managing my kidney health and request the UACR urine test and eGFR blood test. These tests can help assess my kidney function and guide the management of my kidney and heart health. Could we include these tests in my upcoming lab work?
Cardiovascular Disease, Type 2 Diabetes and Family History of Kidney Disease
Since I have cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and a family history of kidney disease, I understand that I’m at a much higher risk of developing kidney disease. Knowing that the early stages of kidney disease often have no symptoms, I’d like to partner with you in managing my kidney health and request the UACR urine test and eGFR blood test. These tests can help assess my kidney function and guide the management of my kidney and heart health. Could we include these tests in my upcoming lab work?
Professional guidelines recommend that healthcare professionals screen for kidney disease using two tests: the urine (UACR) test and blood (eGFR) test. Together, these tests paint a picture of your overall kidney health and are used to determine kidney disease stages and monitor disease progression. Ask your doctor about getting the urine and blood tests to detect kidney disease.
UACR
Urine albumin-to-creatine ratio (UACR) is a urine test that measures the ratio of a protein in the blood to waste in the urine. A high UACR result might indicate kidney damage or injury, and the test may be repeated to confirm kidney disease. This test may also indicate risk of cardiovascular disease.
eGFR
The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is a blood test that measures how well kidneys filter the blood. A low eGFR result is an indication that the kidneys are not working as well as they should.
“ Even though I'd been treated for type 2 diabetes for 10 years, I was already at late-stage kidney disease when I was diagnosed. I wish I knew about the connection between hypertension, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease sooner, and encourage others at-risk for this disease, like I was, to get tested. ”
Patrick
Testing can:
Help inform you about your health
Help identify kidney disease at any time
Help kick-start a care plan
Did you know?
Less than 20% of people at risk for kidney disease received complete testing (defined as both eGFR and UACR) between 2013 and 2019.4 Let’s change that. Talk to your doctor about getting both the urine and blood tests to help stay on top of your kidney health.
You + your healthcare professional = a powerful pair
Together, you and your healthcare professional can completely screen for kidney disease with a simple urine test, alongside eGFR.
The urine test, also known as the UACR test, is a common, simple and cost-effective test that detects protein in the urine to let you and your healthcare professional know more about your kidney health and may also indicate risk for cardiovascular disease.
If you have type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, it should be a part of your regular screenings. Work with your healthcare professional to add UACR testing to your health plan.
Our advocates bring a unique perspective to the kidney disease community and help elevate the voices of others living with this chronic condition.
Patrick
Shortly after graduating from American University School of Public Affairs with a Doctor of Philosophy in Justice, Law, & Criminology, Patrick was diagnosed with stage 3b end-stage kidney disease in 2013. After receiving a kidney transplant in 2017, Dr. Gee founded iAdvocate, Inc., a non-profit Faith-based Health & Wellness organization, where he works as their Chief Executive Hope Dealer. He now serves as a Patient Representative for the Diabetes Kidney Disease-Collaborative Task Force and uses his personal experiences to advocate for underserved communities of color to ensure they have a voice in their quality of life and receive equitable healthcare access.
Thelma
Thelma is a two-time kidney transplant recipient living with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes. Despite experiencing symptoms at just 12 years old, it took nearly a decade for Thelma to receive her IgA Nephropathy (Nephrotic Syndrome) and chronic kidney disease diagnoses in 1993 and 1998. Today, she is a passionate advocate for all people with kidney disease, especially Black Americans and those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, fighting for equal access to quality healthcare and transplants for all with the National Kidney Foundation. Learn more about her kidney health story in the It Takes 2 kidney health PSA!
David
David is a former dialysis patient and current kidney and liver transplant recipient. As a member of the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), he is currently a Field Ambassador, Public Policy Committee Member, and Member of the Executive Committee and National Board of Directors. He is also a consultant and Advocacy Ambassador for the American Liver Foundation (ALF) and an appointed member of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) Patient and Family Advisory Committee. As a patient advocate, he has extensive experience working with various policymakers on both the federal and state level. Outside of his political advocacy work, David has participated in several industry-related projects to review clinical trial design and patient education content and helped raise awareness for kidney transplant options through a bilingual national speaker program.
Our advocacy organization partners are vital in raising awareness for kidney health, amplifying patient voices and driving meaningful change in policy and research to help improve outcomes for those living with kidney disease.
National Kidney Foundation
American Kidney Fund
