Chronic kidney disease is a condition in which your kidneys are damaged due to certain health conditions, which reduces its functional ability. This happens gradually over time, usually months to years. As kidney disease progresses, it may eventually lead to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life. This is dangerous because water, waste, and toxic substances build up that normally are removed from the body by the kidneys.

Kidney and urinary tract disease are very common health issues for the Australian community. Almost one million adults greater than twenty-five years of age suffer from diabetes in Australia.

Stages of Kidney Disease
There are five stages of kidney disease with increasing range of severity.
1. Slight kidney damage with normal or increased filtration
2. Mild decrease in kidney function
3. Moderate decrease in kidney function
4. Severe decrease in kidney function
5. Kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplantation

What do kidneys do and why they fail
Kidneys don’t always get the respect they deserve. Maybe, it’s because they’re relatively small and we simply take them for granted. But, kidneys are truly impressive and the more you learn, the more you’ll understand why you want to help keep them healthy.
Although kidneys are relatively small (each one is about the size of your fist), when they are healthy, hey process 100% of the body’s blood supply about every 5 minutes.

Kidneys perform many important functions:
- Cleaning wastes from the blood
- Managing fluid in the body
- Controlling blood pressure
- Making red blood cells
- Balancing acidity and mineral composition

Kidneys fail when they are no longer able to clean waste from the blood and balance fluid and mineral levels. Regardless of the cause of chronic kidney failure, there is no cure. However, haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis can be a life-saving solution. Dialysis along with certain medicines and a careful diet does what the damaged kidneys can no longer do: it removes the wastes and extra fluid from the blood. A kidney transplant is another option for some people with kidney failure. Researchers are hopeful that someday all causes of kidney failure may be prevented.