March is a time when there is often more focus on kidney health, and for good reason. Kidney disease affects thousands of New Zealanders, but many people do not realise there is a problem until it has already progressed.
So this month, Kidney Health New Zealand is urging Kiwis to do one thing: request a kidney test from their GP or a community testing site with its ‘Love Your Kidneys – Request a Test’ campaign to raise awareness of kidney disease.
It aims to highlight the importance of taking charge of your kidney health through early screening, managing conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits.
The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to help protect your kidneys and reduce your risk of chronic kidney disease.
Why kidney health is important
Your kidneys do a lot of important work behind the scenes and are essential in keeping your body healthy. They help filter waste and excess fluid from your blood, regulate blood pressure, balance minerals and electrolytes, and support the production of healthy red blood cells.
When your kidneys are not working properly, waste can build up in the body and lead to serious health problems. Because kidney disease often develops slowly and without obvious symptoms, early detection can make a real difference.
“Kidney disease is common and often silent. Many people can lose up to 70% of kidney function before they experience any symptoms. By the time someone feels unwell, the disease can already be advanced.”
- Madi Keay, General Manager of Kidney Health New Zealand.
Some people are more likely to develop kidney disease than others. Risk factors can include:
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Being overweight
Smoking
A family history of kidney disease
If any of these apply to you, it could be worth having a conversation with your GP about whether regular monitoring or screening makes sense.
Kidney problems can often be picked up early through simple blood and urine tests. Regular health checks are one of the easiest ways to spot potential issues before they become more serious.
For HealthCarePlus Members who hold a UniMed Primary Care Plan, GP visits, specialist consultations and diagnostic tests may be eligible for reimbursement too. That can help make it easier to stay on top of these routine health checks and get support earlier.
If you don’t currently hold one of these plans, it may be worthwhile looking into getting one. You can check the plan benefits here.
Whilst regular screening is important it is even more important to keep your kidneys healthy and that often comes back to the same everyday habits that support your overall wellbeing.
Helpful steps can include:
Keeping blood pressure in a healthy range
Managing blood sugar levels if you have diabetes
Staying physically active
Eating a balanced diet
Drinking enough water
Avoiding smoking
Small changes made consistently over time can have a positive impact.
Making these changes can feel easier with the right support and with UniMed’s Wellbeing portal powered by Teladoc Health. Members can support healthier eating habits and regular movement with access to services like Ask a GP , Nutrition Consults and Fitness & Recovery Consultations.
Throughout March, Kidney Health New Zealand will be sharing prevention-focused messaging nationwide, encouraging Kiwis to ask their GP about their kidneys, and delivering free community kidney health testing events.
Visit www.loveyourkidneys.co.nz for the calendar of events and more information.
Looking after your kidneys doesn’t need to be complicated. Regular check-ups, early screening, and healthy day-to-day habits can all play a part in protecting your long-term health. If you have any risk factors or have been putting off a check-up, this could be a good reminder to book one in.
And remember the support and help you can get through your Primary Care Plan
If you don’t currently hold one of these plans but want to sign up to get its benefits, you can find out more about these plans and sign up below.