Kidney Disease
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs. Each kidney is about the size of a fist. Your kidneys filter extra water and wastes out of your blood and make urine. Kidney disease means your kidneys are damaged and can’t filter blood the way they should.
You are at greater risk for kidney disease if you have diabetes or high blood pressure. If you experience kidney failure, treatments include kidney transplant or dialysis. Other kidney problems include acute kidney injury, kidney cysts, kidney stones, and kidney infections.
Understanding Your Kidneys and CKD
Kidney Disease Topics
Chronic Kidney Disease
Kidney Failure
Community Health & Outreach
Kidney Disease for Health Professionals
Healthy Moments Radio
Listen to health tips from Dr. Rodgers in his weekly 1-minute episodes.
- Preparing for Your Health Care Visit
- Understanding Your Health Coverage
- Why is Preventive Health Care Important?
Clinical Trials
Watch a video of NIDDK Director Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers explaining the importance of participating in clinical trialsResearch Discoveries & News
- On World Kidney Day, kidney health is for everyone — including you
- Kidney protein could expand the window for developmental nephron production
- NIH clinical trial to track outcomes of kidney transplantation from HIV-positive donors to HIV-positive recipients
- Researchers turn to creative approaches to battle kidney stones