The most effective way to reduce kidney disease is to prevent it from developing in the first place. If you and your family are at risk for kidney disease because of genetics or predisposition to diabetes and obesity, it is important to eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in salt and cholesterol, and to maintain a healthy body weight starting in childhood.
Unfortunately, since the exact causes of some kidney diseases are unknown, there are not yet treatments available for them. For people with reduced kidney function, careful maintenance of blood pressure and diet—such as the avoidance of salt and high-fat and high-cholesterol foods —can keep their kidneys from suffering further damage and getting worse. With complete kidney failure, options for treatment include dialysis and transplantation.
