Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive and, currently, irreversible condition. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) explains what medical treatments and other interventions are available to help slow disease progression, reduce complications, retain functionality, and maintain a high quality of life.*

How does treatment help?

There are a number of related medical conditions that can cause, complicate, and/or hasten CKD development and progression.

These include:

• hypertension (high blood pressure);
• diabetes (high blood glucose);
• cardiovascular disease (clogged and/or damaged blood vessels);
• albuminuria (too much of albumin, a protein, in your urine); and
• anemia (too few red blood cells to produce enough oxygen).

Treatments for CKD are focused on preventing and controlling these conditions, which in turn helps manage the symptoms of CKD.

What treatments are available?

Common treatments employed to slow CKD progression include dietary strategies, lifestyle changes, and medications. You must be an active partner with your healthcare team when it comes to implementing these strategies.

Dietary strategies

Implementing dietary changes for CKD patients has the main goal of controlling the risks of diabetes, hypertension, and malnutrition. When made in consultation with a nutritionist or dietician, these changes may include:

• limiting sodium intake (generally to no more than 2,300 mg/day);
• eating an adequate, but not excessive, amount of protein daily; and
• avoiding foods high in phosphorus, potassium, and added sugars.

Lifestyle interventions

In addition to a healthy diet, there are some simple and practical steps to adjust your lifestyle that can help manage CKD and improve your overall health: 

• Stop smoking. Cigarette smoking is associated with abnormal urine albumin and faster disease progression. Studies show that it also contributes to death from stroke and heart attack in people with CKD. 
• Stay or get active. Physical activity guidelines for adults include 20 to 30 minutes of moderate heart rate elevation every day. A combination of aerobic and strength training is ideal to help control blood glucose and pressure, as well as maintain muscle mass.
• Take your medications. Make sure you are taking them as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Let your doctor know if you’ve missed a dose or doubled-up on one.

Medication management

The most common CKD medications are for controlling high blood pressure. Hypertension is not only a major complication of CKD; it’s also a primary cause of it. Persistent hypertension is a major factor in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and CVD is the number one cause of death for people with CKD. Thus, managing hypertension is one of the most effective ways to slow CKD progression. 

The two most frequently prescribed blood pressure medications for CKD patients are:

• ACE inhibitors: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors dilate (widen) blood vessels—allowing for greater blood flow, less oxygen demand, and less strain on the heart.
• ARBs: Angiotensin II receptor blockers also dilate blood vessels, but do so by blocking the reception of angiotensin II, a chemical produced by the body that causes blood vessels to narrow.

You should inform your physician if you experience adverse side effects from these medications.

*National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. Slow Progression & Reduce Complications.