Kidney Action Week: A Simple Check Can Protect Your Kidneys

Kidney Action Week (10-17 August) encourages people at risk of kidney disease to get tested early and take steps to protect their kidney health.

Your kidneys work hard every day to keep you healthy. They clean your blood, remove waste, and help your body stay in balance.

If you are living with diabetes or pre-diabetes, you have a higher risk of developing kidney disease. High blood sugar can damage the kidneys over time, but kidney disease often develops slowly and has no early warning signs. Many people don’t know they have it until it has become more serious.

The good news is that kidney disease can often be found early with a simple Kidney Health Check.

Could you be at risk?
You may have a higher chance of kidney disease if you:

• • Have type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes
  • Have high blood pressure or heart disease
  • Are living with overweight or obesity
  • Smoke or vape
  • Have had a kidney injury in the past
  • Have a family history of kidney disease
  • Are aged over 60 years
  • Are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged over 18 years

Ask your GP for a Kidney Health Check
A Kidney Health Check is simple and includes:

• • • A blood test
    • A urine test
    • A blood pressure check

Finding kidney disease early means you can get the right care sooner and help protect your kidneys for the future.

Learn more
Watch the short video below from Western Sydney Diabetes to learn more about the connection between diabetes and kidney health.

For more information about Kidney Action Week, click here.