End-Stage Renal Disease: Care Instructions

Overview

End-stage renal (or kidney) disease happens when your kidneys can no longer do their jobs. They can't remove waste from your blood. And they aren't able to balance your body's fluids and chemicals.

This stage of the disease usually occurs after you have chronic kidney disease for years. Now the kidneys work so poorly that you need dialysis or a kidney transplant to live. Dialysis is a treatment to help filter waste from your blood. A transplant is surgery to give you a healthy kidney from another person.

How can you care for yourself at home?

• Be safe with medicines. Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you have any problems with your medicine. Make sure your doctor knows all of the medicines, vitamins, herbal products, and supplements you take.
• Do not take anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen and naproxen. They can make chronic kidney disease worse.
• If you have diabetes, do your best to keep your blood sugar in your target range. You may do this by taking medicine, eating healthy food, and exercising.
• Do not smoke or use other tobacco products and limit alcohol.
• Follow a diet plan that is easy on your kidneys. A dietitian can help you create an eating plan with the right amounts of salt (sodium), potassium, and protein. You may also need to limit how much fluid you drink each day.
• Be active every day that you can, in any way that you can. Work with your doctor to decide what level of activity is right for you.
• If you have an advance directive, let your doctor know. It lets your doctor and loved ones know your health care wishes if you become unable to speak for yourself.