Kidney MD

10/22/2026

Sweet Treats, Smarter Choices: A Kidney-Friendly Halloween

Can you enjoy Halloween candy if you have chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

The answer depends on your kidney health, lab results, medications, and whether you also manage diabetes or are on dialysis. The good news is that you may not have to skip every treat!

In our latest blog, Dr. Ritu Vyas, MD, explains what to know about your favorite Halloween sweets, including:

◙ How chocolate, peanut candies, and hard candies compare in phosphorus and potassium
◙ Why dark chocolate isn't always the better choice for kidney health
◙ What to look for on ingredient labels

Simple ways to enjoy the season while being mindful of your kidney health

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all kidney diet. Your lab results and individual care plan matter.

Can you eat Halloween candy with chronic kidney disease? A nephrologist explains phosphorus, potassium, and sugar in popular candy.

09/22/2026

Dr. Ritu Vyas will be a featured speaker at Kidney Confidence Today, a free virtual summit exploring how nutrition and lifestyle connect to kidney health.

Her session covers the emerging science of the gut-kidney axis and how a whole-food, plant-based eating pattern may support kidney health — part of a growing body of research on nutrition and kidney disease.

✅ Free to attend
✅ Multiple kidney health experts
✅ No purchase necessary to access the full sessions

As always, this summit features multiple speakers and perspectives — talk to your own physician before making any changes to your diet or treatment plan.

🔗 Reserve your free spot: https://www.kidneyconfidencetoday.com/?sa=sa0281110759a52a63c929436e6b720f48e5a788b6

08/17/2026

1 in 8 U.S. Adults Has Chronic Kidney Disease

That's about 36 million people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD)—and many don't know they have it because it often has no symptoms in the early stages.

The good news? Early detection can make a difference.

If you have:
✔️ Diabetes
✔️ High blood pressure
✔️ A family history of kidney disease
✔️ Heart disease
✔️ Age 60 or older

Ask your healthcare provider or nephrologist about getting screened. A simple blood test and urine test can help detect kidney disease early, when treatment is most effective.

1 in 8 adults. One simple screening could make all the difference.

08/03/2026

A New FDA-Approved Treatment for IgA Nephropathy

There is encouraging news for people living with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

The FDA has approved Trutakna® (atacicept-vymj) for adults with primary IgA nephropathy who are at risk for disease progression. It is a once-weekly injection that helps lower protein in the urine, an important sign of kidney disease progression. It is also the first FDA-approved treatment to target both BAFF and APRIL, proteins involved in the disease.

Trutakna® received Accelerated Approval, meaning it showed promising results in reducing protein in the urine, while studies continue to evaluate its long-term benefits.

This treatment is not right for everyone. If you have IgA nephropathy, talk with your nephrologist to find out whether Trutakna® or another treatment may be appropriate for you.

💙 New advances bring new hope for people living with kidney disease.

07/08/2026

Your gut and your kidneys are in constant conversation — and when that conversation breaks down, kidney disease can progress faster.

I’ve just published a new article explaining the gut-kidney axis: what it is, which kidney patients are most affected, and what you can actually do about it — starting with what’s in your refrigerator right now.

(Including: why day-old cold rice is better for your gut than freshly cooked, and why the most important gut health supplement might be Bob’s Red Mill potato starch from the grocery store.)

Trillions of gut bacteria directly influence how fast kidney disease progresses. A nephrologist explains the gut-kidney axis, which foods reduce uremic toxins, and what the research actually says about probiotics for CKD.

06/15/2026

You've probably heard of creatine. You've probably also heard that it can affect your kidneys. But is that actually true?

Our latest blog reviews the evidence, dispels common myths, and explains what every patient should know about creatine and kidney health.

Creatine benefits, dosing, side effects, and what kidney patients need to know — evidence-based answers from Dr. Ritu Vyas, nephrologist in Catonsville, MD.

05/21/2026

Big news for our Medicare patients!

The CMS GLP-1 Bridge Program is here, giving eligible Medicare beneficiaries more access to obesity medications like Wegovy®, Foundayo®, and Zepbound®. Starting July 1, 2026, qualifying patients may get these medications for as little as $50/month.

Call us today to schedule an appointment and find out if you qualify.

05/13/2026

One of the most common questions I get as a nephrologist is what we can do to protect our kidneys. Read on to learn what hydrogen water is — and whether it actually helps.

Is hydrogen water worth it? A board-certified nephrologist reviews the evidence — including new 2025 dialysis data showing a 41% drop in heart events. No hype, just science.

04/28/2026

Today is APOL1 Awareness Day — and this one hits close to home.

APOL1 is a gene variant found almost exclusively in people of West African descent. When someone inherits two copies, their risk of serious kidney disease — including FSGS — can be up to 17 times higher than average.
About 13% of Black Americans carry this high-risk genotype. Most have never been told.

As a nephrologist, I wrote today's blog post for every patient who was told their kidney disease was "just hypertension" — and for every family wondering why a loved one ended up on dialysis so young.

The post covers:
• What APOL1 is (in plain language)
• What triggers it (medications, infections, inflammation)
• When to ask about genetic testing
• What's in the treatment pipeline right now

Please share this with someone who needs to see it. Awareness is the first step toward equity. 💙

🔗 Read the full article here:
https://www.kidneymd.net/post/apol1-kidney-disease-black-americans

Learn about APOL1 kidney disease affecting millions of Black Americans, its genetic risks, early warning signs, and new treatments changing kidney care.

04/28/2026

You don't have to have a CKD diagnosis to benefit from knowing your risk.

Our BMI + CKD Risk Scorer estimates your personal risk of developing chronic kidney disease based on the factors that matter most:

📌 BMI
📌 Age
📌 Diabetes
📌 High blood pressure
📌 Family history
📌 Race/ethnicity

The result is a personalized risk score with recommended next steps — so you know whether to watch, test, or act.

Kidney disease affects 37 million Americans. Most don't know until it's too late to reverse. A 60-second check could change that.

Try it free at https://www.kidneymd.net/calculators/bmi-ckd-risk-scorer