Below you will find a collection of PDFs, websites and other text-based resources related to areas of kidney health. Get started by selecting from the available topics listed below.
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Kidney Basics
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Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
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Diet & Nutrition
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Diabetes
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High Blood Pressure
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Heart Health
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Mental Health
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Lifestyle
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Lab Values
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Dialysis Access
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Dialysis Treatments
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Transplant
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Conservative Care
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Medications
Kidney Basics
Kidney Information from the US Department of Veterans Affairs
Your body works best when water and chemicals in your blood stay in a tight range all the time. To keep your blood in balance, healthy kidneys do three main things: remove wastes and excess water from your blood; make messages, called hormones; and control levels of electrolytes in your blood.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Kidney Beginnings: A Patient's Guide to Living with Reduced Kidney Function
American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP)
About Chronic Kidney Disease: A Guide for Patients
Did you know that the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) offers guidelines and commentaries that help your healthcare provider make decisions about your medical treatment? The information in this booklet is based on those recommended guidelines.
Take Care of Your Kidneys
2019 US Department of Veterans Affairs / Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
How well are your kidneys working?
National Institutes of Health
- Pocket Guide to Managing Kidney Disease | AAKP
- Understanding What It Means to Have Protein In Your Urine | AAKP
Diet and Nutrition
Nutrition and CKD (Stages 1-4): Are you getting what you need?
A resource guide from the National Kidney Foundation
Renal Diet Meal Plan Guide
If you have kidney disease you may need to control potassium, phosphorus, sodium, protein and
fluid in your diet. This meal plan will help guide your food choices. From New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
- AAKP Nutrition Counter: A Reference for Kidney Patients
- AAKP Nutrition Counter: A Reference for Kidney Patients (Spanish)
Diabetes
Diabetes in the United States
Infographic from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Hispanic and Asian Subgroups Are at Higher Risk for Diabetes
Hispanic and non-Hispanic Asians collectively account for 23% of the US population and are at a higher risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Take Charge of Your Diabetes - CDC
When you have diabetes, you need to take your medicines correctly to stay healthy. If you don’t, they may not work as well. The good news is that your pharmacist can help you stay on track with your medicines. You’ve already taken an important step by finding this guide!
- Resources for People Living with Diabetes | Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists
- Diabetes and Kidney Disease: What to Eat? | CDC
- Diabetes and Kidney Disease: What to Eat? | CDC (Spanish)
- Diabetes Meal Planning | CDC
- Diabetes Meal Planning | CDC (Spanish)
- Grocery Shopping | CDC
- Grocery Shopping | CDC (Spanish)
- Food Labels | CDC
- Food Labels | CDC (Spanish)
- Healthy Weight | CDC
- Healthy Weight | CDC (Spanish)
- Get Active! | CDC
- Get Active! | CDC (Spanish)
High Blood Pressure
Explore the series of PDFs and resources provided by the American Heart Association and available on their website. Access these resources using the links below.
Change Your Numbers. Change Your Life.
You have the power to lower your blood pressure. And when you do, you'll have more time for all the people, places and things you love most. Learn more from the American Heart Association's website.
- What is High Blood Pressure?
- What is High Blood Pressure? (Spanish)
- African Americans and High Blood Pressure
- High Blood Pressure and Stroke
- Why Should I Limit Sodium?
- What is High Blood Pressure Medicine?
- What is High Blood Pressure Medicine? (Spanish)
Health Threats From High Blood Pressure
In most cases, the damage done by high blood pressure (HBP, or hypertension) takes place over time. Left undetected (or uncontrolled), high blood pressure can lead to: stroke, vision loss, heart failure, heart attack, sexual dysfunction, kidney disease and kidney failure.
Healthy and unhealthy blood pressure ranges
Learn what’s considered normal, as recommended by the American Heart Association.
Blood Pressure Tracker
Use this chart to set your own goal and track your blood pressure readings.
Heart Health
ABCs of Heart Health: To reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke
Every year, Americans suffer more than 1.5 million heart attacks and strokes. But following the ABCS can help reduce your risk and improve your heart health.
Download the English version here
Download the Spanish version here
Mental Health
Coping, Living, and Thriving with Kidney Disease - AAKP
The Purpose of this Booklet is to empower individuals to take charge of their disease management by confronting negative feelings and providing strategies on how you and your team can thrive and become the warrior you want to be on this journey of kidney disease.
- Understanding Depression in Kidney Disease | American Association of Kidney Patients
- When Your Loved One is Depressed | American Association of Kidney Patients
Mental Health and Chronic Disease - CDC, 2012
Mental health disorders are medical conditions that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just like chronic diseases, mental health disorders are treatable.
Lifestyle
Family Reunion Kidney Health Guide
Family reunion planners – or anyone planning or attending a reunion or family gathering – can use this guide to help make kidney health a family affair.
Kidney Sundays: A Toolkit
Health ministry leaders – or anyone interested in bringing health programming to their congregation – can use this toolkit to help make the kidney connection.
Lab Values
Keep Track of Your Kidney Test Results!
This PDF guide from the NIH is a great way to help you keep track of your kidney test results and learn why each value is important, all in one place. Use the link below to download and print your own copy.
Blood Test for GFR
Your health care provider will use a blood test to check your kidney function. Learn more about the importance of understanding your GFR using the links below.
Visit the National Institutes of Health website
Urine Test for Albumin
If you are at risk for kidney disease, your provider may check your urine for albumin. Learn more about a test called your ACR, or albumin-to-creatinine ratio, using the link below.
Visit the National Institutes of Health website
- Chronic Kidney Disease Tests & Diagnosis: How can I tell if I have kidney disease? | NIDDK
- Understanding your lab values | National Kidney Foundation
- Understanding lab values for persons with CKD/not on dialysis: What it Means | UNC Kidney Center
- Creatinine tests | Mayo Clinic
Dialysis Access
- Understanding Your Hemodialysis Access Options | American Association of Kidney Patients
Dialysis Treatments
- Understanding Your Hemodialysis Options | American Association of Kidney Patients
- Understanding Your Peritoneal Dialysis Options | American Association of Kidney Patients
- Understanding Your Home Hemodialysis Options | American Association of Kidney Patients
American Association of Kidney Patients Patient Plan®
Phase 1: Diagnosis to Treatment Choice
Phase 1 of The AAKP Patient Plan© is designed to address questions and concerns at each step of your kidney disease process.
- AAKP Patient Plan Phase 01: Diagnosis to Treatment Choices
- AAKP Patient Plan Phase 02: Getting Help and Starting Dialysis
- AAKP Patient Plan Phase 03: Stabilization
- AAKP Patient Plan Phase 04: Ongoing Treatment
Transplantation
Get the Facts: Kidney Transplantation
Learn the facts about getting a kidney transplant and how it might affect you before you make decisions about your treatment. Materials provided by the ESRD Network of the South Atlantic
Kidney Transplantation, American Association of Kidney Patients
There is a national transplant waiting list for people who are waiting for all types of transplants. Every 10 minutes, a new person is added to the list. Most of the people on the list are waiting for a kidney transplant. How long one has to wait is different for each person. The average time to wait for a kidney is 3-5 years. For some it might be shorter and for others it might be longer. You should ask your kidney care team to tell you about kidney transplantation as a treatment option for your kidney disease.
Conservative Care
Medications
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