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February 2024 | News, Staff News

Many Manitobans don’t know much about their kidneys – or that they may have kidney disease. Kidneys can lose 80 per cent of their function before any symptoms of kidney disease are felt.

With March being Kidney Health Month in Canada and World Kidney Day happening on March 14, it’s a great time to talk about the importance of early diagnosis of kidney disease. Early diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease may help delay or prevent kidney failure. When a person has kidney failure, life-sustaining dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed to stay alive. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important Manitobans don’t delay their regular doctor checkups. Be sure to ask about getting your kidneys checked in routine blood and urine tests.

It’s time to get to know your kidneys.

Visit our campaign website: www.knowyourkidneys.ca to take a kidney quiz and complete the risk checklist.

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You may not feel symptoms of kidney disease until 80% of your kidney function is gone. Find out if you are at risk and how to keep your kidneys as healthy as possible at www.knowyourkidneys.ca #KidneyHealthMonth #WorldKidneyDay #KnowYourKidneys

Il se peut que vous n’ayez aucun symptôme avant d’avoir perdu jusqu’à 80 % de vos fonctions rénales. Visitez la page knowyourkidneys.ca pour en savoir plus sur l’état de santé de vos reins. #KidneyHealthMonth #WorldKidneyDay

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Check out these facts:

  • Manitoba has the highest rates of kidney disease in Canada.[1]
  • The leading causes of kidney disease are high blood sugar (diabetes) and high blood pressure but there are other causes. [1]
  • As many as 1 in 10 Manitoba adults have some amount of kidney disease[2]
  • Early diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease may help prevent or delay end stage kidney disease and the need for dialysis.
  • Between 2010 and 2019, the number of Canadians on dialysis grew by 25.7 percent. During that same period, the number of people on dialysis in Manitoba grew by 45 per cent. [3]
  • In Manitoba there are 1,854 people receiving life-sustaining dialysis treatments and another 7,623 people are being treated for chronic kidney disease.

What do Kidneys Do?

Kidneys help your body get rid of stuff it doesn’t need like extra fluid, waste or minerals. They also help control blood pressure, balance chemicals in the body and build red blood cells. Learn more about all the kidneys’ important jobs.

What is Chronic Kidney Disease?

Kidney disease is irreversible damage to the kidneys. Damaged kidneys usually continue to lose more function as time goes on. When kidneys stop working your body can’t get rid of all that stuff it doesn’t need and this can make you feel very sick. Learn more about chronic kidney disease.

How do you know if you have kidney disease?

The best way to find out how your kidneys are doing is visiting a doctor or nurse for a blood and urine test. Those test results will show how well your kidneys are working. You will not show signs of chronic kidney disease until a lot of your kidney function is already gone. This is why getting a routine check up is so important.

Know Your Risk
Kidney Disease Screening
Signs of CKD

How is kidney disease treated?

Without treatment, kidney disease can lead to kidney failure which can cause death. Here is how kidney disease or kidney failure is treated:

Stages 1 – 5 Kidney Disease:

  • Lifestyle Changes – Diet/Physical Activity
  • Getting a Healthy Blood Pressure
  • Prescribed Medications
  • Treating and Managing diabetes
  • Other care/treatment as needed

Kidney Failure:

In addition to all the other mentioned treatments, a person would now need to choose:

  • Dialysis
  • Transplant
  • No Treatment (End of Life Care)

What can you do to keep your kidneys healthy?

There are lots of ways to keep your kidneys as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Learn how to care for your kidneys.

Visit knowyourkidneys.ca to take a kidney quiz and use the risk checklist. It’s time to get to know your kidneys.


[1] Canadian Institute for Health Information, Canadian Organ Replacement Registry 2022
[2] Care of Manitobans Living with Chronic Kidney Disease. Winnipeg, MB. Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, December 2015.
[3]
Manitoba has the Highest Rates of Kidney Disease in Canada

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