Kidney Health Australia

This #NationalDiabetesWeek we are calling on all Australians living with diabetes to get a simple Kidney Health Check at your GP. A Kidney Health Check is quick to do and includes three simple tests: ✔️A blood test, to measure how well your kidneys are filtering your blood (your eGFR - estimated glomerular filtration rate); ✔️A urine test, to check how much albumin (a type of protein) is present in your urine; and ✔️A blood pressure check, as increasing blood pressure is often one of the first signs of kidney disease.

Living with diabetes, Rechelle knew she was at increased risk of kidney disease. But she assumed that if she did develop kidney disease, it would be much further down the line. Rechelle received her devastating kidney disease diagnosis aged just 35 - and she was told her kidney function was sitting at a mere 30 per cent. "I remember my doctor saying to me back then, if you continue to not take care of yourself, they would say, the obvious ones, like, you'll end up having no fingers or toes, you'll end up being blind, or you end up with like heart or kidney disease. That was the kind of way that they would say it to you … I'm very close to 40 now, but I used to think to myself, yeah, like when I'm like, 45, 60 [years old]. Like, it's not going to happen to me now. It's actually a lot easier to live life with diabetes and letting your blood sugar run high … If you work really hard, like, which I did, I was a high performer with a number of like, you know, big companies, and I just was like, you know, I don't have time for diabetes. So my diabetes got deprioritised. And so therefore my HbA1c, which is how you measure your average kind of glucose blood level … my number was never great. It was kind of always between like, eight and 12 and it should be under eight. With that prolonged over time, obviously that can kind of impact it. But yeah, I just didn't think it was gonna happen to me." Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease. If you are living with diabetes, ask your GP for a Kidney Health Check.

Today the National #HypertensionTaskforce Roadmap has been unveiled in efforts to control Australia’s lagging blood pressure rates from the current 32% to 70% by 2030. High blood pressure is a leading cause of kidney disease, yet 68% of Australians with #hypertension are uncontrolled. Kidney Health Australia is pleased to work collaboratively as a member of the task force to tackle this major public health problem.

We were thrilled to have contributed content and pharmacist presenter Raymond Truong for the The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) GP Training Program on Wednesday 26 June in Adelaide. The RACGP GP Training Program is essential in training and equipping Australia’s future GP workforce with the knowledge, skills and experience to meet primary healthcare needs. We are looking forward to supporting the upcoming small group training. Thank you to presenters Dr Lachlan McMichael (Nephrologist), Dr Chii Yeap (Nephrologist) and Chiang Sheng Lee who delivered key messages on the importance of the early detection and management of #chronickidneydisease.

Even in today's digital world, the humble telephone call still plays an integral role in gifts in wills fundraising programs. Our Bequest Manager, Roberta Armitage spoke with F&P (Fundraising & Philanthropy) about how we incorporate telemarketing in our campaigns. https://lnkd.in/gev8eV2J

The Big Red Kidney Bus would not be possible without the wonderful nurses. Meet Marlette, who recently worked on the Bus in Mildura. "Exploring Mildura proved to be a delightful surprise during my recent visit while working with the Big Red Kidney Bus, a mobile dialysis service catering to patients across Australia. The warmth of kindness greeted me right from the start at Big 4 Mildura Getaway Holiday Park. Not only was the hospitality remarkable, but the cleanliness of the park was exceptional. Mildura undoubtedly deserves its status as a must-visit destination. This charming country town has won over my heart with its hospitality, delicious cuisine, and warm ambiance." We would like to thank Marlette and all the nurses who dedicate their time to support the Buses to provide holiday dialysis for the kidney community. ❤️ Your kind donations help to keep our Buses on the road. Visit our website to make a donation: https://lnkd.in/gfbEkqbn

Delighted to speak at a Regional Cardio-Renal-Metabolic Patient Organisation Alliance in Malaysia today. So critical that Heart, Diabetes and Kidney organisations work together for best patient outcomes! Apparently I needed a touch up before filming 😅 Thanks to Boehringer Ingelheim for supporting bringing patient organisations together. Kidney Health Australia Australian New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN)

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme – Keep The Fire Burning! – Blak, Loud and Proud - honours the enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.    Chronic kidney disease disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and our team are committed to working together with First Nations leaders, communities and health services to help address inequities in kidney health.   Kidney Health Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present.    #NAIDOC2024 #NAIDOCWeek #BlakLoudProud

Meet our 2024 Rally-tives, 'The Warby Wildcats'! 🏎️ "Several years ago, our daughter Courtney became ill and spent many hours in casualty being re-hydrated and having minor tests to see what was wrong. They found nothing obvious for a couple of years, with many nights spent in hospital. Until one night she was taken by ambulance to Moruya Hospital and then airlifted to Canberra. During her admission there my wife and I were with her one evening in the hospital when she became so ill and almost lifeless on the bed, they hit the code blue button which brought the medical staff from all departments of the hospital to help. They were amazing. After some special treatment and many more tests over 10 days, including a biopsy of her kidneys, she was diagnosed with lupus and chronic kidney disease “Lupus Nephritis”. Courtney was put on many different medications, which seemed to work for quite a while but unfortunately her health and kidney function deteriorated, and she required dialysis 3 times a week for 18 months and a kidney transplant. As any parent would for their child, my wife and I started the work up and testing for compatibility and Justine was the perfect match. In February 2023 the transplant took place in Westmead Hospital. The operation was a great success, and I could see the results in Courtneys appearance immediately. Again, the transplant team and medical staff were amazing. Unfortunately, just recently Courtney had a setback. The Lupus was again attacking her new kidney. She has been through chemotherapy treatment for a few months and a change in medications which had some success, but her kidney function is still declining. We would dearly love Courtney to have the experience and most importantly raise money for Kidney Health Australia and make a difference. Courtney attended one stage of the Kidney Kar Rally last year from Batemans Bay to Eden and the absolute excitement on her face was priceless. We joined her for the dinner/presentation that night and we got to meet this large group of dedicated people all raising money for this great cause and immediately felt we needed to be a part of it. The challenge for her to be part of such an amazing, inclusive event has given Courtney a will to live on with this debilitating disease and give awareness of just how many people and families like ours are affected by kidney disease in Australia." - Brendan Warby, Courtney's father. Donate to The Warby Wildcats here: https://lnkd.in/gXgHv8mF

The most recent report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicates that kidney disease ranks among the top 10 most prevalent chronic conditions affecting Australians, frequently coexisting with other chronic diseases. Now more than ever it's clear that we need early detection and prevention of progression of chronic kidney disease to ensure better outcomes for patients and their families.