Take care of your kidneys and they'll take care of you

Your kidneys may be small (each just about the size of a computer mouse), but they’re mighty — filtering all the blood in your body every 30 minutes. That’s about 50 gallons a day. These multitasking organs don’t just remove waste, toxins and extra fluid — they also:

• Help control your blood pressure.
• Signal your body to make red blood cells, which transport oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and body cells.
• Help keep your bones healthy.
• Regulate blood chemicals that are essential to life.

Healthy kidneys are key to overall wellness. But 1 in 7 adults in the U.S. has chronic kidney disease (CKD) — and as many as 9 in 10 don’t know it.¹

CKD is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged and can’t filter blood as well as they should. Because of this, excess fluid and waste build up, which can lead to heart disease, anemia, infections, loss of appetite, and depression.¹

The tricky part is that early stages of CKD often have no symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to know your risk and to stay current on checkups and lab tests based on your risk factors.

What puts your kidneys at risk?

Certain factors can increase your risk of kidney disease, including:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• A family history of kidney disease
• Smoking
• Being over age 60

Risk-based kidney care 

You may be at risk for CKD if any of the following apply to you. If you’re at risk for CKD, get tested regularly. Ask your doctor how often is right for you.

If you have diabetes

About 1 in 3 people with diabetes has CKD. Reduce your risk by:

• Meeting blood sugar targets as often as you can.
• Getting your A1C level tested at least twice a year (ideally up to 4 times per year).
• Getting tested yearly for CKD.

Explore these Health Net programs that can help.

• Eat Right Now is a program developed by Sharecare and designed to help you step off the diet roller coaster and create healthy habits that last. The program offers three tracks: Mindful Eating, Weight Loss, and Diabetes Prevention. A short assessment will guide you to one of three tracks that best fits your needs and goals.
• Diabetes Prevention Program, recognized by the CDC, is a program that offers tailored guidance for preventing type 2 diabetes. Participants who are prediabetic receive personalized coaching, join live weekly calls, and have access to a free scale and activity tracker.²

To learn more about and get started with these programs, go to Sharecare Wellness Programs.

If you are considered overweight

Excess weight increases your risk for high blood pressure and diabetes — the leading causes of CKD — putting you at greater risk for CKD.

The Mindful Eating and Weight Loss tracks of Sharecare’s Eat Right Now program can help.

• Mindful Eating provides the foundation for you to establish mindful eating habits and reshape your relationship to food.
• Weight Loss builds upon mindful eating principles, providing additional tools for effective and sustainable weight loss. You’ll work with a personal coach, join live weekly calls, and track your progress over time with a free scale and activity tracker.²

To learn more about and get started with these programs, go to Sharecare Wellness Programs.

If you have high blood pressure

About 1 in 5 people with high blood pressure has CKD. Reduce your risk by:

• Monitoring your blood pressure regularly.
• Talking to your doctor about ways to lower your blood pressure and medicines that harm your kidneys.

Health Net’s Health Coaching Program provides people who have high blood pressure personalized, one-on-one support from a coach to stay on track with managing their condition, including:

• Regular monitoring. Help for you to stick to a blood pressure check schedule and understand your numbers.
• Guidance and motivation. Expert advice and encouragement to manage your high blood pressure.
• Better conversations with your doctor. Prepare for doctor visits, so you know what questions to ask, especially about medications that could affect your kidneys.
• Support from experience. Coaches that understand and provide realistic, practical tips based on lived experience.
• Goal tracking. Set targets, build healthy habits, and celebrate progress toward lowering your risk of kidney disease.

To learn more and take the first step toward feeling better, call (855) 430-5272 and select option 2. We’ll answer your questions and set up your first call with a coach at your convenience.

If you have a family history of CKD

CKD runs in families. You may be more likely to get kidney disease if you have a blood relative with CKD.

Get more CDC tips on maintaining healthy kidneys. 

Check out these resources to learn more about chronic kidney disease.

Talk to your doctor about getting tested

Since CKD often goes unnoticed, the only way to know for sure is through blood and urine tests. During your annual preventive care visit, ask your health care provider if kidney function screening is right for you based on your age and risk factors. 

Common tests may include:

• A urine dipstick test.
• Blood tests that measure creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR). 

Learn more about these tests and talk with your provider about which are appropriate for you. 

Even when ordered by your provider, not all lab tests may be covered. If you have questions about coverage, call the Health Benefit Navigator team at (800) 539-4072, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. PT.

¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , May 14, 2024.