Kidney Testing: Everything You Need to Know

CKD [Chronic kidney disease] is a condition wherein your kidneys get damaged eventually and they cannot filter blood the way they should. Diabetes is a primary cause of this condition, which often shows no symptoms until the kidneys are terribly damaged.

If you are someone who has diabetes, it means you are at a greater risk for severe kidney disease. Your medical practitioner will suggest you take 1-2 kidney tests to evaluate the kidneys’ health. The sooner you get to know the kidneys’ health, the better it is, as you can take the necessary steps to safeguard them.
Urine tests

One initial indication of kidney disease is when protein seeps into the urine (proteinuria). To inspect for protein in the urine, your medical practitioner will ask you to take a urine test. Two kinds of tests can help evaluate protein levels.

Dipstick urine test

This particular test is often performed as part of a general urinalysis, however, it can be carried out as a swift test to seek albumin in the urine as well. It doesn’t offer an accurate volume of albumin however it does allow your doctor to identify whether your levels are regular. A dipstick is put in your urine sample and if levels are higher than normal, the dipstick will change its color. If you possess irregular albumin levels, your clinician might want to run additional tests.

UACR [Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio]

This specific test calculates the albumin amount and evaluates it against the creatinine amount in the urine. This test lets your doctor be familiar with the exact amount of albumin that passes through the urine in a 24-hour period. This KFT test result of 30 or more may imply kidney disease. The test might be replicated twice to substantiate the results. If you have kidney disease, the albumin amount in the urine will help the doctor suggest an ideal treatment for you. When the urine albumin stays the same or descends, it means that the treatment is working.

Blood tests

Since the kidneys remove toxins, waste, and additional fluid from your blood, your doctor will employ a blood test too to examine the kidney function. The blood tests will demonstrate how well the kidneys are doing their work and how swiftly the waste is being eliminated.

Serum creatinine

This blood test gauges the creatinine amount in the blood. If the kidneys are not working as they should, the serum creatinine level rises. Standard levels for an individual will rely on their age, sex, and muscle mass amount the body has.

Typically a creatinine level over 1.2 for women and over 1.4 for men might be an indication that the kidneys are actually not functioning as they should. If the serum creatinine test results are on the higher side, the doctor might want to administer other tests.

GFR [Glomerular filtration rate]

If you possess a GFR number of around 60 or more jointly with a regular urine albumin test, then you shouldn’t worry too much as you are in the standard range. However, you should talk to your medical practitioner about when you ought to be examined again. If the GFR number is less than 60, it might indicate that you have kidney disease. If your results indicate kidney failure, you will probably need a kidney transplant or dialysis treatment. You must know that if the GFR level is below 20 constantly over 180 days to 365 days period, as a safety measure, your medical practitioner might think about a kidney transplant treatment for you.

BUN [Blood urea nitrogen]

This specific test calculates the urea nitrogen amount in the blood. It is a waste product that your body creates from the protein breakdown in the foodstuff you consume. Healthy kidneys filter it out of the blood and it departs the body through urine. This procedure helps keep the BUN level within a standard range. A normal urea nitrogen level will rely on the age and health conditions that a person might have, however, it typically ranges between 7 to 20. If the levels are higher, this may be a symptom that the kidneys are not functioning properly. If the BUN level shows kidney disease signs, the doctor will run several other tests to determine the best treatment plan that suits your needs.

Other tests
Blood pressure

Since high blood pressure is often a major cause of kidney failure and kidney disease, the practitioner will want to keep an eye on your blood pressure. Handling blood sugar, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels are quite significant if you have chronic kidney disease, as they are all common factors that boost the risk for stroke and heart disease.

Imaging

The imaging tests are utilized to get an image of your kidney to seek for any damage or issues. Imaging tests let your medical practitioner check how well the blood flow is to the kidneys and whether there is any narrowing or blockage in your blood vessels.

You can reduce your risk for chronic kidney disease or make it from getting any worse by consuming healthy foods, staying active, and keeping your cholesterol and blood pressure levels within the target range. You must look after your kidneys properly, especially if you are at a risk for kidney diseases. If you are someone who has diabetes, you must get your kidneys checked once a year. This will offer you the finest chance for locating and treating chronic kidney disease early.

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September 05, 2022