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.
- Take Action to Protect Yourself From Glaucoma
- Keeping Portions in Check
- Help Youth Who Have Diabetes Prevent or Delay Other Health Problems
Clinical Trials
Watch a video of NIDDK Director Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers explaining the importance of participating in clinical trialsResearch Discoveries & News
- Story of Discovery: Engineered Kidney Tissues and Organoids: Tools for Improved Disease Modeling and Development of Therapies
- New Kidney Mapping Could Lead to Health Gold
- On World Kidney Day, kidney health is for everyone — including you
- Gene sequencing can help tailor treatments for young people with kidney failure