Resources For Living Well With Kidney Disease

This expert-led class at a location near you will help you understand kidney function, kidney-friendly nutrition, treatment options, and how to thrive with kidney disease.

Learn the basic stages of CKD, treatment options for ESRD as well as tips and resources to support you.

It’s important to be aware of the risk factors and symptoms of chronic kidney disease. Join us as we walk through the signs and symptoms of CKD so you can feel empowered and start taking control of your health.

If you’re getting ready to talk to your doctor about CKD, here’s a list of questions that can help get the conversation started.

Your nephrologist and dietitian can help you address the specific needs for your current stage and plan for the next. Use these questions to help get the conversation started.

The more you share with your treatment team about your condition, the more tailored your treatment will be. Here are some questions about ESRD for you to consider.

Your care team is dedicated and committed to your success while on dialysis. Use this list of questions to help guide your conversations.

This list of resources will help you learn more about kidney disease and the support available to you and your loved ones.

Learn about the importance of residual renal function (RRF) which indicates your kidneys’ ability to remove water and toxins from your body and how PD supports RRF to help you feel your best.

Understand what causes acute kidney injury (AKI) and how it can be managed with dialysis.

Learn why staying for your full prescribed dialysis treatment time may help you feel better and stay out of the hospital.

Dialysis should fit into your life, not the other way around. Our Treatment Decision Guide will help you identify the treatment type that's right for you.

Try MEI’s tool My Life, My Dialysis Choice to help you decide which treatment option is best for you.

Learn more about the options for home dialysis. Home hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis can be gentler on your body, meaning lower risk of health complications, feeling better, and having the energy to do the things you love.

If you have an active lifestyle or are often on the go, then peritoneal dialysis (PD) may be the right choice for you. PD offers additional freedom and flexibility as a treatment option that's closest to natural kidney function.

Home hemodialysis gives you the flexibility to fit treatment into your lifestyle and may help you feel better with fewer medications and dietary restrictions.

A kidney transplant is one of the most effective treatments for ESRD. Our guide discusses some of the factors that can lead to a successful transplant.

Kidney Transplant is one of the most effective treatments for end stage renal disease. Here are 5 things you should know and discuss with your social worker and insurance coordinator.

Donating a living kidney is an extraordinary gift because you're helping to improve another person's quality of live. If you are interested in donating yours, here are some things to consider.

To feel your best on dialysis, it is important to follow every step of your treatment exactly as your doctor prescribes. These 4 essentials will help you get started.

Looking for more freedom and flexibility around treatment to fit your lifestyle? Learn about the benefits of home dialysis and whether it may be the best treatment option for you.

Choosing the right treatment option can help you stay committed and thrive. Learn about the home dialysis treatment options to help keep you feeling your best.

Learn how this simple and flexible home dialysis option can help you take control of your health.

It’s important to make sure you have all the facts to help you make the best treatment decision. Watch our video to uncover the truths about home dialysis.

Home dialysis can generate a lot of boxes and plastic waste. Here are some helpful tips on how to manage it and help cut the clutter.

Now that you’ve chosen home peritoneal dialysis, you may have a lot of questions about what to expect. This handout will help prepare you for the start of your training.

Now that you’ve chosen home hemodialysis, you may have a lot of questions about what to expect. This handout will help prepare you for the start of training.

It may take up to five years to receive a transplant without a living donor, so it’s important to stay your healthiest while you wait to get a transplant. Use this guide for tips on how to stay healthy while you wait.

Your access site is your lifeline—use this guide to help you choose the access type that is right for you.

Follow a plan to have your new or secondary access placed and/or your HD catheter removed. Partner with your care team to get the best access possible.

Take these steps to ensure you feel your best by keeping your PD catheter clean and preventing peritonitis.

Ensure you feel your best by taking these steps to care for your hemodialysis catheter and keep it clean.

Keep your access site clean and healthy. Learn how you can monitor your fistula or graft daily to help identify infections and complications early.

Your access site is your lifeline. If you notice a problem or concern, act quickly to get it treated as soon as possible.

Learn about the CDC's (Center for Disease Control) recent 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine recommendations with answers to common questions.

Monitoring your health, staying up to date on vaccines including your booster, and following masking and social distancing guidelines are more important than ever to stay your healthiest. Learn about the additional steps we are taking to reduce the impact of COVID-19 to ensure you stay on track with your treatments and remain healthy.

Follow these easy steps to make sure you’re keeping your hands clean throughout the day to help avoid infection.

Practicing good hand hygiene helps you reduce the spread of viruses and prevent infection. Follow these steps to help stay healthy.

Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Practice these tips to stay healthy and reduce further spread of the illness at home.

Learn more about coronavirus and the simple things you can do, like washing your hands, to help you stay healthy.

Practice proper hand hygiene at all times to avoid infection before, during and after your dialysis treatment. Follow these tips to keep your hands clean and to stay your healthiest.

Dry, itchy skin is common among people living with kidney disease. Include these tips in your daily routine to keep your skin healthier and avoid the itch.

Learn more about the flu and ways to fight off infection so you can thrive all year long.

The best way to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia is to get vaccinated. Learn more about completing the vaccination series and tips for feeling your best.

Good oral hygiene is important for you to feel your best. Follow these tips for a healthy mouth.

Did you know your feet can provide clues to your overall health? Learn how to take care of your feet so you can prevent minor injuries from turning into more serious problems.

If you have an amputation, skin care is very important. Use these tips to make skin care a daily routine when checking your stump, especially if you have diabetes.

If you are diagnosed with Hepatitis C, you are not alone! Our Hepatitis C Care Management Program will support you every step of the way. See how our program can support you.

It is always important to be aware of your surroundings so you can stay safe and feeling your best. Check out these tips to help prevent any accidents both at home and at your dialysis center.

When you have kidney disease, it is important to take control of your health by being informed about the harmful effects of tobacco use. Follow these important tips to help you quit smoking and feel your best.

Learn about anemia and the symptoms you may experience if you are anemic. Work with your care team to learn about your lab values and your hemoglobin goal.

Did you know that during dialysis, you may lose lots of iron and essential vitamins? If you are anemic, find out what medications your doctor may prescribe to help you feel your best.

Depression and anxiety are much more common than you may think. Learn to recognize the signs of depression and anxiety so you can find healthy ways to cope.

It is not uncommon to experience grief and loss after the diagnosis of kidney disease. Try these tips to help you cope with these feelings so you can continue to feel your best.

You don’t need a lot of space to store your home dialysis supplies. Check out these tips to help you store your supplies.

Your support system just got bigger! Sign up to join the community where you can ask questions, share stories and make connections with others going through similar experiences.

Thriving on dialysis starts with great medical care, but it doesn’t end there. Your social worker can provide information, ideas, and suggestions to help you thrive on dialysis.

Learn more about where and how you can make a donation to honor the memory of your loved one.

Use this handout to help you understand the flowsheet treatment period, which date to select, and when to enter your vitals into your flowsheet.

Use this handout to help you understand the flowsheet treatment period, which date to select, and when to enter your vitals into your flowsheet.

If you dialyze in-center, PatientHub can help you stay active in your care by checking your health information and treatment progress. Talk to your care team about joining today!

Learn how you can visit with your care team and nephrologist virtually, so you don’t have to be in the same location to get the care you need.

Use this handout to follow the step-by-step instructions to log into a telehealth appointment with your care team in PatientHub.

If you have an urgent medical issue and it’s outside of your doctor's regular business hours, use this guide to help you decide whether to go to an urgent care center or the emergency room.

If you dialyze at home, talk to your care team about PatientHub. Join today to play a more active role in your care and track your progress.

Help your care team monitor your health during AKI treatment by telling them about any changes you experience day to day. Track these health factors daily and report them to your care team.

Constipation can affect anyone but is common for people managing kidney disease. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and tips to relieve constipation.

It’s important to maintain a healthy weight when living with kidney disease.  You can work with your doctor or dietician and use this handout for tips and tools to create the right plan to help you manage your weight.

Here’s a list of healthy food choices that can help you manage your potassium intake and keep your levels in check.

Use this handy guide—designed specifically for a lower-potassium lifestyle—to make healthy food choices while you shop.

If you have diabetes and kidney disease, use this handout and complete the activity on the back to better learn how to build kidney-friendly meals, understand how carbs work, and identify and count carbs in food and drinks.

If you have CKD and aren't on dialysis yet, here’s a list of 100+ great food choices to use as a quick reference guide.

Whether you are on a low-potassium or flexible-potassium ESRD diet, this handy guide will help you make the right food choices.

Use these helpful tips to eat well and feel your best during the holidays.

Learn about potassium’s role in maintaining a kidney-friendly diet and key tips to managing your potassium level.

When living with ESRD, it’s harder for your kidneys to remove extra phosphorus from the foods you eat. Learn tips to help manage and identify hidden phosphorus.

Did you know that protein is monitored by measuring your albumin level? Learn about the importance of protein for a dialysis diet and add these easy and delicious protein-packed snacks to your kidney-friendly diet today.

What you eat and drink – and how much – can impact your kidney health and how you feel. Learn how choosing proteins like plant-based options or fresh, lean animal proteins can be better for your overall health.

Use this flyer to learn about the health benefits of a plant-based diet. The piece features helpful tips and food substitution ideas for those looking to incorporate more whole, plant-based foods into their diet.

Learn why it's important to keep your calcium levels balanced. Use these tips to help manage your calcium intake and how to identify hidden calcium.

Consuming enough protein helps you feel your best and protein supplements can help you meet your daily intake goals. Use this helpful guide to find the different ways protein can be incorporated into your diet.

Watch this video to learn more about the important link between phosphorus and kidney disease. Take steps to keep your phosphorus under control to help prevent brittle bones and heart disease.

Use this tracker to record your fluid intake and urine output—and share your results with your nurse or doctor.

Learn how to manage your fluid and sodium intake so you'll feel your best during dialysis and in between treatments.

Learn how eating salty foods directly affects your fluid intake and build healthier, lower-sodium meals.

Fluids are typically limited on a dialysis diet, but the exact amount you should have each day may depend on your health and the type of dialysis you're on. Watch this video to learn some quick tips to help manage your fluid.

If you need help cutting salt out of your diet, this video will provide tip and tricks to reduce your salt intake.

High blood pressure can be a sign of fluid buildup. Learn tips and how to monitor your blood pressure at home daily.

Excess fluid may cause edema. Learn how to check for edema with a few easy steps as well as tips to help with managing fluid.

Know your estimated dry weight and weigh yourself daily to monitor your fluid gains. Check out these great tips to keep in mind when weighing yourself.

Use this tracker to record your urine output and weight each day—and share your results with your nurse or doctor.

If you’re planning to travel, our handy checklist helps you get organized with tips on what to pack and what information you should have with you.

When you’re traveling on dialysis, a little planning can go a long way. Here are some tips on how to prepare for a successful trip.

If you are planning a trip, it’s important to ensure that you have the medications you need to keep you healthy. Use our guide for tips you need to know.

When flying, either within the US or internationally, it’s important to have the medications you need. Download the guide to learn more.

Whether you're just beginning dialysis or your circumstances have recently changed, this guide will help you understand your options for health insurance coverage.

Understand the health insurance benefits offered by your employer and how you can continue your employee benefits while on dialysis.

Learn about the basics of Medicaid including coverage benefits, continuity of coverage, and how Medicaid works with other insurance plans.

Learn about the basics of Medicare Parts A, B, C, D, and additional resources available to supplement your coverage.

Learn about the basics of Medicare Advantage and how Medicare Advantage compares to traditional Medicare.

Use this checklist to organize your insurance-related information (current insurance coverage, physicians, medications, etc.). This checklist will help you prepare for a discussion on your insurance options.

Learn about the Medicare Extra Help program, how it might help with prescription costs, and ways to apply.

Help us keep your insurance information up-to-date by bringing your insurance cards in once a month. Verifying your insurance information can help reduce billing errors and notify us of changes to your plans.

Learn the basics about insurance coverage and dialysis with these simple truths and frequently used terms.

If you are on Medicare, use this list to learn more about the steps you should take during open enrollment. Be sure to take the time to learn about your options, including the option of Medicare Advantage.

Learn why it’s important to receive dialysis services that are in-network with your health plan.

Learn about Dialysis Plan Choice, a coverage comparison tool to help you explore health insurance options available to people on dialysis.

Download this in-depth booklet that provides details about what Medicare and Medicare Advantage cover for dialysis, transplant, and related services.

Learn about the resources you can contact for more information on insurance options available to you– Medicare.gov, SHIPHelp.org, and independent licensed insurance agencies like SelectQuote and eHealth. 

Keeping a list of your medications is the best way for you and your care team to stay up to date with all of your medications. Use this handout to understand how to track and organize your medications.

It’s important to have a list of your medications, prescriptions and any medicines that you may be allergic to, ready and in one place. Use this form to complete or update your medication information.

Food and binders go together to make a healthy heart and strong bones. Use this list with your dialysis care team so they can choose the right binder for you.

Learn about common over the counter (OTC) medications and how they may impact your overall kidney health so you can stay feeling your best.

It’s always helpful to have all your important personal information organized in one place. Use this form to complete or update your personal information.

The best time to prepare for an emergency is when there isn’t one. Our checklist helps you plan so you’ll be ready in the event of an emergency.

Make sure you're prepared in the event of an emergency. Review this checklist specific to peritoneal dialysis so you'll be ready.

Putting together an emergency food and water supply lets you eat healthy in the event of a disaster—especially if you’re forced to miss a dialysis treatment. Our checklist can guide you on how to prepare.

Being prepared is always a good idea. If you cannot receive dialysis due to a natural disaster, follow this daily meal plan until you can receive treatment.