Diabetic kidney disease is the number one cause of end stage kidney disease in the United States.  It typically presents with protein in the urine.  Initially, the kidneys’ ability to filter is good, but with time, will deteriorate.  Ultimately, the kidneys fail, and many patients end up needing dialysis. 

Use of ACE inhibitors (lisinopril, benazapril, etc.) and ARBs (losartan, valsartan, etc.) have been the main tool to slow the progression of diabetic kidney disease.  These are blood pressure medications that also reduce the protein in the urine and slow the damage in the kidneys. 

Recent studies have shown a role for SGLT2 inhibitors. These are medications originally approved for diabetes – canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, and ertugliflozin.  The CREDENCE trial was recently published.  This looked at the use of canagliflozin for diabetic kidney disease.  This showed a 34% reduction in the risk of “renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes.”    

This fall, the FDA added this indication to the canagliflozin label, and can be initiated in patients throughout stage CKD stage 3.  Additionally, patients can remain on this medication when they progress to CKD stage 4 – although it does need to be stopped if a patient is on dialysis. 

This is an exciting new option for treating diabetic kidney disease.  Like all medications, there are potential side effect.  In the next post, we will discuss some of the other benefits and potential side effects of this treatment option. 

Happy 2020! With the new year come new resolutions. Hopefully, everyone is thinking of ways to improve their kidney health. Here at Meadow Kidney Care, we are going to try to make this site a more useful place to find news and tips. Hopefully, information will be posted on a weekly basis – look for something new every Tuesday. Don’t forget to discuss your particular circumstances with your personal health care team.

Home dialysis is an option for many people with kidney failure. It can allow for more independence and increased quality of life. The link below is the story of a man who is doing home hemodialysis in Georgia. The video link within the article is quite informative.  He is doing his home hemodialysis with the NxStage machine, the same technology available to the patients of Meadow Kidney Care. 

Home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are provided at Fresenius Medical Care units in Hagerstown, Chambersburg, and Martinsburg.  If you are interested in learning more about home therapies, and are a current in-center dialysis patient, speak with your nurse or physician to learn more.  Programs are available to allow patients to experience the difference that home hemodialysis can provide. 

Click here for to read/watch the informative story of Mr. Cash: Kidney failure patient tries at-home dialysis

Fall is here, and that means it is time to get your flu vaccine. This vaccine should be received each year, so if you had it last year, you are still due for another. 

If you are 65 years or older, you can receive the high dose flu vaccine.  This can result in a better immune response than the standard flu vaccine. The high dose vaccine was shown to be 24% more effective in preventing the flu, and associated with a lower risk of hospitalization. 

Please contact your pharmacist, primary care physician, or pharmacist about receiving your flu vaccine.  If you are a dialysis patient, the flu vaccine should have been offered to you already – speak to your medical team if you have not received it. 

If you are a patient of Meadow Kidney Care, we have the standard dose flu vaccine available for our patients. We do not have the high dose vaccine available at this time.  

 Welcome to Meadow Kidney Care.  We hope you find the information on this page to be helpful.  Other pages contain useful information about the offices, the doctors, and some educational links.  This page will contain periodic updates about the practice, as well as news that is of interest to patients with kidney disease.  

Weather related updates will also be found here, in addition to our Facebook page.