Drink enough water to stay well-hydrated (unless you’ve been told to limit fluids)
Follow a kidney-friendly diet as advised by your clinician or dietitian
Reduce sodium intake (avoid processed foods, limit salt)
Limit high-protein intake if you have chronic kidney disease or were advised to do so
Choose lower-phosphorus foods if you have elevated phosphorus or kidney disease
Consider limiting potassium if your blood tests show high potassium
Avoid supplements and medications that may raise creatinine or harm kidneys unless cleared by your clinician (especially creatine supplements)
Avoid NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.) unless your clinician approves
Manage blood pressure and diabetes (take prescribed medications consistently)
Stop smoking if you smoke
Maintain a healthy weight and engage in regular, moderate physical activity if safe for you
Treat underlying causes (e.g., urinary obstruction, infections, medication-related kidney stress) with clinician guidance
Review any medications with your clinician, including dose adjustments for kidney function
Get repeat labs to confirm trends and rule out temporary causes (dehydration, heavy exercise, recent illness)
Seek medical care urgently for decreased urine output, swelling, severe fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, or rapidly worsening lab values