Most people do not think about their kidneys until something goes wrong.

I understand that. Before kidney disease changed my life, I did not fully understand how much these two organs control. Your kidneys filter waste and excess fluid from your blood. They also help regulate blood pressure, balance important minerals, and support red blood cell production.

When kidney function declines, the consequences reach far beyond the kidneys.

My kidney failure was caused by membranous nephropathy. I eventually spent nine years receiving dialysis four days a week. Dialysis kept me alive, but it also controlled much of my schedule, energy, work, and family life.

On July 11, 2025, I received a kidney transplant from a non-directed living donor. That transplant gave me an opportunity to rebuild my health and regain parts of my life that kidney failure had taken away.

I am sharing this because kidney disease often receives attention only when someone reaches dialysis or needs a transplant. By then, the disease may have been developing for years.

The Kidney Foundation of Canada reports that one in ten Canadians has chronic kidney disease. Some people with serious kidney disease have few symptoms or no symptoms at all. Feeling reasonably well does not prove that your kidneys are healthy.

That is what makes early testing important.

Two tests can provide valuable information:

A blood test measures creatinine and calculates your estimated glomerular filtration rate, commonly called eGFR. This helps show how well your kidneys are filtering your blood.

A urine test called uACR checks for albumin, a protein that can appear in the urine when the kidney filters have been damaged.

These are ordinary laboratory tests. Many people have had the blood test without understanding what eGFR means. The urine test may receive even less attention, although it can identify kidney damage before kidney function has declined significantly.

You should be especially aware of your kidney health if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or a family history of kidney disease. The Kidney Foundation also identifies people of African or Caribbean, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, Pacific Island, and Hispanic descent as populations with increased risk.

Being at increased risk does not mean kidney disease is inevitable. It means testing and follow-up deserve serious attention.

Ask your healthcare provider three direct questions:

What is my eGFR?

Have I had a urine albumin test, also called uACR?

Have either of those results changed over time?

Do not settle for “your bloodwork looks fine” if you have risk factors. Ask for the numbers and understand what they mean. One result may not tell the full story. Trends over time can reveal changes that deserve attention.

Early detection does not guarantee that kidney disease can be reversed. It can create an opportunity to control blood pressure, manage diabetes, review medications, treat an underlying condition, and slow further kidney damage.

I cannot rewrite my own history. I can use it to encourage someone else to ask an important question before kidney disease reaches an advanced stage.

Know your kidney numbers. Ask about eGFR and uACR. Share this information with someone who has diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney disease.

A blood test and urine test may start a conversation that protects years of someone’s life.