Kidney MD

06/15/2026

You've probably heard of creatine. You've probably also heard that it can affect your kidneys. But is that actually true?

Our latest blog reviews the evidence, dispels common myths, and explains what every patient should know about creatine and kidney health.

Creatine benefits, dosing, side effects, and what kidney patients need to know — evidence-based answers from Dr. Ritu Vyas, nephrologist in Catonsville, MD.

05/21/2026

Big news for our Medicare patients!

The CMS GLP-1 Bridge Program is here, giving eligible Medicare beneficiaries more access to obesity medications like Wegovy®, Foundayo®, and Zepbound®. Starting July 1, 2026, qualifying patients may get these medications for as little as $50/month.

Call us today to schedule an appointment and find out if you qualify.

05/13/2026

One of the most common questions I get as a nephrologist is what we can do to protect our kidneys. Read on to learn what hydrogen water is — and whether it actually helps.

Is hydrogen water worth it? A board-certified nephrologist reviews the evidence — including new 2025 dialysis data showing a 41% drop in heart events. No hype, just science.

04/28/2026

Today is APOL1 Awareness Day — and this one hits close to home.

APOL1 is a gene variant found almost exclusively in people of West African descent. When someone inherits two copies, their risk of serious kidney disease — including FSGS — can be up to 17 times higher than average.
About 13% of Black Americans carry this high-risk genotype. Most have never been told.

As a nephrologist, I wrote today's blog post for every patient who was told their kidney disease was "just hypertension" — and for every family wondering why a loved one ended up on dialysis so young.

The post covers:
• What APOL1 is (in plain language)
• What triggers it (medications, infections, inflammation)
• When to ask about genetic testing
• What's in the treatment pipeline right now

Please share this with someone who needs to see it. Awareness is the first step toward equity. 💙

🔗 Read the full article here:
https://www.kidneymd.net/post/apol1-kidney-disease-black-americans

Learn about APOL1 kidney disease affecting millions of Black Americans, its genetic risks, early warning signs, and new treatments changing kidney care.

04/28/2026

You don't have to have a CKD diagnosis to benefit from knowing your risk.

Our BMI + CKD Risk Scorer estimates your personal risk of developing chronic kidney disease based on the factors that matter most:

📌 BMI
📌 Age
📌 Diabetes
📌 High blood pressure
📌 Family history
📌 Race/ethnicity

The result is a personalized risk score with recommended next steps — so you know whether to watch, test, or act.

Kidney disease affects 37 million Americans. Most don't know until it's too late to reverse. A 60-second check could change that.

Try it free at https://www.kidneymd.net/calculators/bmi-ckd-risk-scorer

04/21/2026

"Just eat less protein."

That's the most oversimplified — and sometimes harmful — advice given to CKD patients.

The truth? Protein needs in kidney disease depend on your CKD stage, your body weight, and whether you're on dialysis. Get it wrong in either direction and you pay a price.

Our Recommended Protein Intake Calculator gives you a personalized daily protein target — not a generic range, but a number calculated for your specific situation.

Pre-dialysis patients often benefit from modest restriction.
Dialysis patients often need significantly more.
One calculator. Your answer.

Try it free at https://www.kidneymd.net/calculators/daily-protein-intake-calculator

04/14/2026

Nutrition is one of the most powerful tools in CKD management — and one of the most under-used.

Too much protein? It strains your kidneys.
Too little? You lose muscle and get weaker.

Our Nutrition & Calorie Calculator cuts through the noise with evidence-based, KDOQI-aligned recommendations built specifically for kidney patients.

Tell it your:
• GFR stage
• Dialysis status
• Height, weight, and BMI

And it gives you your personalized daily calorie, protein, and macro targets — adjusted for exactly where you are in your CKD journey.

Try it here https://www.kidneymd.net/calculators/energy-balance-calculator

04/07/2026

CKD progresses silently. By the time most patients feel symptoms, significant kidney function is already lost.

Knowing your risk isn't scary — it's powerful.

Our Kidney Failure Risk Calculator predicts your 2-year and 5-year probability of kidney failure progression using the same validated risk models used in clinical research.

It takes just two inputs:
📌 Your eGFR (kidney function score)
📌 Your uACR (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio — a simple urine test)

The result? A personalized risk estimate that helps you and your nephrologist make better decisions — earlier.

Whether your CKD is mild or advanced, understanding your trajectory is the first step toward changing it.

Try it at https://www.kidneymd.net/calculators/kidney-failure-risk-calculator

04/03/2026

Your kidneys filter about 180 liters of blood every day — and your eGFR tells you how well they're doing it.

eGFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) is the #1 number used to stage chronic kidney disease. Most people have never heard of it. Many already have early CKD and don't know yet.

Our eGFR Calculator uses the latest CKD–EPI 2021 equation — the same formula nephrologists use — to estimate your kidney function and show you exactly what CKD stage you're in.

All you need: your age, s*x, and your most recent creatinine level (found on any routine blood panel).

Try it free: https://www.kidneymd.net/calculators/egfr-calculator-ckd-epi

03/25/2026

By the time symptoms appear, kidney disease may already be advanced.

That’s why early action matters.

If you’ve been told:

• “Your labs are slightly off”
• “Just monitor for now”

…it may be time for a deeper evaluation.

Join a care model focused on prevention: https://www.ki

Read the blog on "When Should You See a Nephrologist?": https://www.kidneymd.net/post/when-should-you-see-a-nephrologist