By Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM
Did you know that chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 1 in 7 adults in the United States? That is approximately 35.5 million Americans and more than 14% of adults. Even more concerning is that nearly 90% of the individuals with CKD are unaware that they have the disease. CKD is often symptom-free in the early stages. It quietly progresses until there is significant and sometimes irreversible damage. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of kidney disease. About 1 in 3 people with diabetes and 1 in 5 people with high blood pressure have kidney disease.
Today approximately 555,000 people in the United States are on dialysis.
As of September 2025, there were 92,000 patients registered on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) kidney transplant waiting list in the United States. This number reflects the critical need for early detection, patient education, coordinated care, and the ongoing demand for kidney transplants.
According to worldkidneyday.org, there are eight golden rules for kidney health.
- Keep regular control of your blood sugar. About 50% of people with Diabetes will develop kidney damage. Make sure you are doing all you can to stay in control!
- Keep fit and active. Staying active helps in many areas to keep your kidneys healthy as well as promotes a positive mood and weight loss.
- Eat healthily and keep your weight in check. Making healthy food choices will go hand in hand with staying active to reduce weight and encourage good health.
- Water, water, water! Keeping hydrated is good for your skin as well as your kidneys. Staying hydrated flushes, the toxins out of the kidneys and reduces the chance of kidney stones.
- Get your kidney function checked if you have any “high risk” factors such as diabetes, hypertension, or obesity.
- Check your blood pressure regularly. Hypertension often goes unnoticed.
- No Smoking! Smoking is bad in many ways; the chance of developing kidney cancer increases by 50% for smokers.
- Stay away from over-the-counter medicine for chronic issues. Many over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen can harm your kidneys if taken regularly.
CKD Facts:
- is a silent disease, people with CKD have no signs or symptoms until the late stage of the disease.
- usually does not go away, instead, it progresses, unless there is early treatment to slow or halt the disease.
- can progress to kidney failure posing a life-threatening risk.
- ranks number seven in the top ten causes of death among noncommunicable diseases worldwide.
- increases the risk of premature death from associated cardiovascular disease.
- is more common among certain ethnic groups due in part to high rates of diabetes and high blood pressure.
- is more common among women.
March is National Kidney Month. This is an ideal time to raise awareness, reinforce prevention strategies, and empower both patients and case managers to take action in protecting the health of their kidneys.
Take care of your kidneys!
Keep your kidneys happy and healthy for years to come!
Interesting fact about the kidneys: Did you know your left kidney sits slightly higher than the right? This happens due to the size of the liver which pushes the right kidney lower. This asymmetry often surprises people, as they expect internal organs to be perfectly aligned. Despite the difference, both kidneys perform the same vital functions equally well.
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Bio: Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM is President of CMSA. She is a transplant case manager with a wide variety of experiences including educator, administrator, team leader, and Director of Case Management. Janet holds a Master of Science in Nursing from West Virginia University and a Master of Science in Adult Education from Marshall University. She has published many articles in CMSA Today and the Professional Case Management Journal and served as a reviewer for the Core Curriculum for Case Management Third Edition. She has served as President-Elect of CMSA, Chair of the CMSA Today Editorial Board, Chair of the Nominations Committee, and Vice-President of the CMSA Foundation board. Janet was the recipient of the CMSA National Award of Service Excellence and Southern Ohio Valley CMSA Case Management Leadership award and was recently inducted as a Case Management Fellow from CMSA.