It Takes 2: Chronic Kidney Disease Awareness

It Takes 2 people – a patient and a healthcare professional, and 2 tests – an eGFR blood and a UACR urine test – to get the full picture about chronic kidney disease (CKD). Together, these two tests can help identify the stage of CKD, assess the risk of disease progression, cardiovascular events, and kidney failure.

Chronic Kidney Disease: Two adults speaking

Patient and caregiver story: Thelma & Mike

In 1988, Thelma was diagnosed with CKD. Since then, she has also been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and heart failure. But Thelma's story is not just about her medical conditions. It's about the unwavering support of her husband, Mike. Mike is not only Thelma’s husband but also her best friend and caregiver, who has been by her side, helping her navigate the challenges of managing her diseases. In providing emotional and physical support, holding Thelma accountable for her required lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, and asking the right questions at Thelma’s regular medical check-ins, Mike continues to be Thelma’s rock. Today, both Thelma and Mike advocate for early testing of CKD and a greater understanding of the risks associated with the disease, to empower you and your loved ones to speak up early, and enable a faster diagnosis and treatment.

Watch the full interview with Thelma and Mike below and join us in our mission to transform care for patients living with CKD and other cardiovascular, renal and metabolic conditions.

Risk factors and testing for CKD

Understanding the risks and symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is important. By knowing the risks, it empowers you or your loved ones to get checked more regularly. So, if CKD has developed, a diagnosis can be made earlier, and in turn, treated earlier.

Certain people are more at-risk than others of developing CKD. This includes those living with metabolic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Diabetes and high blood pressure are responsible for 2 in 3 cases of kidney disease. Age and family history are also risk-factors of CKD. Knowledge is power. Knowing and sharing the CKD risk factors can empower people to advocate for testing with their healthcare professional (HCP). It Takes 2 people – a patient and an HCP – to help detect kidney disease.

Diagnosis of CKD

It Takes 2 tests – an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) blood and a urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) test – to get the full picture of CKD.

Despite healthcare guidelines recommending CKD to be screened with both tests, all too often, this is not the case. Early, regular and complete testing for kidney disease is the best way to determine kidney health and help reduce long-term complications. Speak up to ensure 2 tests are used to test for and diagnose CKD:

eGFR, or estimated glomerular filtration rate, is a blood test that measures how well kidneys filter the blood. It also helps determine the stage of kidney disease.
UACR, or urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, is a urine test that measures the ratio of a protein in the blood to waste in the urine. This helps to predict the outcome of kidney disease.

Together, these 2 tests can help to identify the stage of CKD as well as the risk of disease progression, cardiovascular events and kidney failure. If you or someone you know lives with metabolic conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, speak to your healthcare professional today about testing for CKD.

It Takes 2 people – a patient and a healthcare professional, and 2 tests – an eGFR blood and a UACR urine test – to detect and get the full picture about chronic kidney disease.