Chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is when your kidneys have some damage that develops over time. This damage develops for at least three months.  Developing CKD is usually a very slow process with very few symptoms until late stage. 

The most common causes of CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure. Other conditions can also lead to CKD, like glomerulonephritis and polycystic kidney disease (PKD). 

If CKD becomes severe, your kidneys might not work well enough to continue to keep you alive. This is called kidney failure, and you will need to seek immediate medical attention.

There is no cure for CKD. However, there are things you can do to slow it down and prevent it from getting worse. This includes adjusting your diet, changing your lifestyle and taking medications.

• Nutrition. Eating a balanced diet is crucial for your kidneys. If you have CKD, you may need to limit salt, drink less fluid and reduce protein intake.
• Lifestyle. Staying active is important. Regular exercise can help reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. It is also important to stop smoking, limit alcohol and maintain a healthy weight.
• Medicine. Your doctor may prescribe medicine to help manage the disease. These medicines can help reduce the chance of your kidney function declining, control your blood pressure, blood sugars and cholesterol. 

For severe CKD, known as kidney failure, the main treatments are:

• Dialysis: This is a lifelong treatment that uses medical devices to remove waste and excess fluid from your blood. There are two main types: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
• Transplantation: This is a surgery where you get a kidney from a donor to replace your damaged one.

To learn more about CKD, visit BC Renal’s page on the condition.

Clinics that treat CKD

If you are diagnosed with CKD, you will be referred to the Kidney Care Clinic within the Renal Program. This clinic provides specialized support for you and your family. It includes nutrition advice, social work, nurse education and medication guidance.

The Indigenous Wellness Liaison Team is here to support your health journey. Team members offer cultural support and healthcare advocacy. Learn more below or call them at 604-682-2344,62937 or email IWL@providencehealth.bc.ca.

Advances in treatments are all thanks to medical research. While participating in research is a decision you should make for yourself in consultation with your care team, there is much activity in this area so please ask us about our research programs if you’re interested.

By taking part in research, you can help us all learn more about advancing health outcomes and find better ways to help people live and thrive. While you cannot assume benefit to yourself, your participation can make a difference in improving care for future patients.

The following clinical trials are currently enrolling volunteers. Please ask your care team for more information or contact the research team listed on each study or trial. For other information about research at Providence Health Care, please visit Providence Research.