numbers. Ask your healthcare provider about important tests like your GFR and the amount of protein in your urine. Keep track of them. •If kidney disease gets worse, it can lead to kidney failure. Once kidneys fail, treatment with dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed to stay alive. WWW.KIDNEY.ORG 17 Test your knowledge: Take this True or False quiz 1. Your kidneys’ only job is to remove wastes and extra fluid from your body. True ____ False ____ 2. People with diabetes or high blood pressure have a higher risk of getting chronic kidney disease. True ____ False ____ 3. People with early chronic kidney disease always have a lot of symptoms. True ____ False ____ 4. Black Americans have a low risk of getting chronic kidney disease. True ____ False ____ 5. Chronic kidney disease can be found using simple blood and urine tests. True ____ False ____ 6. Early detection and treatment can often keep chronic kidney disease from getting worse. True ____ False ____ 7. Protein in the urine for several weeks is an early sign of chronic kidney disease. True ____ False ____ 8. The best way to know how your kidneys are working is to know your glomerular filtration rate (GFR). True ____ False ____ 9. Anemia and bone disease are common complications of chronic kidney disease. True ____ False ____ 10. People with chronic kidney disease have a low risk of getting heart disease. True ____ False ____ (See answers on page 23.) 18 NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION Understanding your lab numbers Some or all of these tests may be used to check your general health. Ask your healthcare team which tests you will have and how often they will be done. If your numbers are not in the normal range, ask how to improve them. A1C: This is a simple blood test that is used to diagnose diabetes and then to see how well you are managing your diabetes. It tells you what your average blood sugar level is for the past two to three months. Blood Glucose: If you have diabetes, controlling your blood sugar is important. Good control helps keep chronic kidney disease and other problems from getting worse. There are two ways to monitor your blood glucose. The first is with a blood glucose meter. This is a simple test that you do yourself, usually several times a day. It tells you what your blood sugar is at any moment in the day. The other way is with an A1C test. (See "A1C" above.) Blood Pressure: Blood pressure measures the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels. High blood pressure happens when the pressure increases enough to cause damage. If you have high blood pressure, make sure you follow all the steps in your treatment plan. Treatment is important because high blood pressure increases your risk for heart and blood vessel disease. Calcium: Calcium is a mineral in the blood that is important for strong bones and teeth. People with kidney disease often develop bone and mineral disorder due to abnormal calcium levels. Testing your calcium level helps your WWW.KIDNEY.ORG 19 healthcare provider evaluate if you have mineral or bone disorder and need treatment. Cholesterol: •Total Cholesterol Cholesterol is a fat-like substance in your blood. A high cholesterol level may increase your risk of having heart and circulation problems. However, a cholesterol level that is too low may mean you are not eating well enough to stay healthy. • HDL Cholesterol HDL cholesterol is a type of “good” cholesterol that protects your heart. •LDL Cholesterol LDL cholesterol is a type of “bad” cholesterol. A high LDL level may increase your chance of having heart and blood vessel problems. If your LDL level is too high, your healthcare provider may recommend changing your diet and increasing your activity level. •Triglyceride Triglyceride is another type of fat found in your blood. A high triglyceride level, along with high levels of total and LDL cholesterol, may increase your chance of having heart and blood vessel problems. Creatinine Clearance: Your creatinine clearance is another test that tells your doctor how much kidney function you have. It is done using a sample of your urine. If your creatinine clearance falls below 15, you will need to have a treatment for kidney failure, like dialysis or a kidney transplant. 20 NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION GFR: Your GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is a measure of kidney function that can be estimated from a simple blood test. If your GFR falls below 30, your healthcare professional will speak to you about treatments for kidney failure. A GFR below 15 indicates that you need to start one of these treatments. Hemoglobin: Hemoglobin is the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to all the tissues in your body. If your hemoglobin is too low, you have anemia. Anemia can make you feel tired and have little energy. Testing your hemoglobin levels is important because it helps your healthcare provider know whether you have anemia and need treatment for it. It also helps show how well your anemia treatment is working. If you have anemia due to kidney disease, you may need to take a medicine called erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA), along with extra iron. Iron: •TSAT and Serum Ferritin Your TSAT and serum ferritin are measures of iron in your body. Iron helps your body make red blood cells. You may need extra iron if you have anemia. •Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) Your PTH level gives