Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney damage so look after your blood sugar if you have diabetes
Look after your blood pressure (high blood pressure is a common cause of kidney damage)
Have a healthy non-smoking lifestyle (smoking slows the flow of blood to the kidneys)
Aim for a healthy low salt diet (too much salt in your diet can damage your kidneys and also raise your blood pressure)
If you take regular medicine then make sure you understand what your medicines do, how they work and that some may damage your kidneys (for example, Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs can cause problems if taken very frequently)
Remember that your kidneys need good fluid intake to work well, so unless you’ve been told to restrict the amount of fluid you drink or eat (fluid in sauces, soups and gravy count too) then make sure you drink plenty. This guide may help if you are on a fluid restriction
If you have kidney disease then make sure you ‘know your numbers’ (what stage you are at, your levels (eGFR and Creatinine) and what that means for you)
Make sure that your pharmacist knows if you have been diagnosed with kidney disease too
Make sure you know about acute kidney injury (also known as AKI) and that you could be at risk if you have had an upset tummy, sickness and/or diarrhoea
