Choosing your treatment

Depending on the stage of your kidney disease, there are treatments and steps you can take to improve your kidney health and overall quality of life.

A male health professional consults with a young male patient

Although being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease can be overwhelming and scary, there are treatment options available that can help you improve your quality of life and kidney health. Because kidney disease is progressive and occurs in stages, you can take steps to slow down or halt the progression of the damage to your kidneys. With the right planning and support, you can still have a good quality of life.

There are five stages of kidney disease. Your treatment options will depend on what stage your kidney disease is at.

Early stages (1-2). During these early stages, most people feel normal. It's important to talk to your doctor before you take any new medicines, even natural or herbal ones, as they may have an impact on your kidney health.
Middle stages (3-4). It's more common for people to discover they have chronic kidney disease in these stages, as they often begin to feel unwell. They may also notice a change in how often they urinate, and a raise in blood pressure.
Later stages/kidney failure (4-5). Sometimes, even with management and treatment, kidney disease becomes kidney failure. People in this stage will need dialysis or an organ transplant. They can also opt to enter comprehensive conservative care.

In the early and middle stages of kidney disease, while you may be prescribed medications for high blood pressure or diabetes that can help your kidney functions, there is not a 'specific' kidney medication you can take. However, there are lots of things that you can do to slow down the progression of kidney disease. These will help you to stay healthy longer and include:

not smoking
eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, and decreasing your salt intake
being active
managing diabetes, including your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes
taking blood pressure and other medicines as prescribed
drinking more water
monitoring you blood pressure, including getting it checked regularly
talking to your doctor about other medicines, and how they may be affecting your kidney health
getting your kidneys regularly checked by your health practitioner
learning about your kidneys and how they should function
keeping vaccinations up to date as per the National Immunisation Program.

By stage 5, also called kidney failure, your kidneys can no longer function on their own and you will require treatment with kidney replacement therapy - dialysis or a kidney transplant will be required. Another treatment you may also choose to comprehensive conservative care. Your health practitioner will be able to explain these treatment options with you.

Going through dialysis or preparing for a kidney transplant can be overwhelming, and you may have questions. We've put together some resources to help provide support for both the patient and carer during this time.

Our Living with Kidney Failure handbook is an extensive guide for people with kidney failure. It provides plenty of helpful information, including a balanced view on the different types of treatments available to help you make the best decision. Download free electronic resources from our resource library.

Dialysis: Key facts

When you have kidney failure your body cannot get rid of extra water and waste products. Dialysis is the removal of the water and waste products.

Kidney transplant

A transplant is a treatment for kidney failure. Find out what’s involved, who can have one, and how to prepare.

Comprehensive conservative care

Find out about comprehensive conservative care, it can be the preferred form of treatment for patients with kidney failure.

An older man holds a female patient's hand

Medications & kidney disease

People with chronic kidney disease are often prescribed multiple medications. Understand the impact of medications plus which ones to avoid.

A woman holds a white pill and a glass of water

My Kidneys My Choice

When you have kidney failure, you are faced with making important decisions about treatment.

Patient resources

Our 'An Introduction to' series of booklets are available for download or purchase. These, A5 sized booklets provide detailed information about the various elements to kidney disease and treatment. From dialysis, transplantation and donation to comprehensive conservative care and symptom management.

Choosing your treatment | Kidney Health Australia

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