GFR Calculator

Stage 1 CKD is diagnosed when a person has kidney damage and CKD risk factors with normal or high GFR. In Stage 1, there are often few to no symptoms. Management includes a healthy diet, blood pressure regulation and good glucose control in people with diabetes. Early CKD is usually diagnosed when there is:

• High blood pressure
• Higher than normal levels of creatinine or urea in the blood
• Blood or protein in the urine
• Evidence of kidney damage in an MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, or contrast X-ray
• A family history of polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

In Stage 2 CKD, the GFR is mildly decreased between 60-89, indicating the person has kidney damage and mild loss of kidney function. Similar to Stage 1 CKD, following a healthy diet, controlling blood pressure and managing diabetes are key ways to slow the progression of CKD. Early CKD is usually diagnosed when there is:

• High blood pressure
• Higher than normal levels of creatinine or urea in the blood
• Blood or protein in the urine
• Evidence of kidney damage in an MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, or contrast X-ray
• A family history of polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

Stage 3 CKD, a moderate decrease in kidney function, is divided into 3A (GFR is 45 to 59) and 3B (GFR is 30 to 44). The following can occur when someone is in stage 3 of CKD:

• Waste products build up in the blood.
• Symptoms include fatigue, too much fluid, urination changes, sleep problems and kidney pain.
• You can often manage stage 3 by changing to a kidney-friendly diet  plan as well as managing high blood pressure and diabetes.
• Visit your doctor or nephrologist to help manage kidney disease through kidney-friendly living habits and possibly with prescription medication.

When CKD has progressed to Stage 4, it's time to begin preparing for dialysis and/or a kidney transplant. If GFR falls below 30, people need to find a kidney doctor (called a nephrologist) and talk about treatment options.

• People may develop complications, such as high blood pressure, anemia, bone disease and cardiovascular diseases.
• Symptoms include fatigue, back pain, nausea, taste changes, nerve problems and difficulty sleeping.
• Seeing a kidney doctor will help a person manage their disease.
• A dietitian is usually referred by a kidney doctor to help a person with kidney disease to learn more about the right kidney diet for them.

A person with Stage 5 CKD has end stage renal disease (ESRD) with a GFR less than 15 ml/min. At this advanced stage of kidney disease, the kidneys have lost nearly all their ability to do their job effectively, and eventually dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed to live.

• Symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, itching, swelling and making little or no urine.
• People with Stage 5 CKD will need to consider a couple of different treatment options, such as dialysis (a treatment that removes wastes and excess fluid from your body) or a kidney transplant.