Talking with Your Health Care Professionals

The most important person on your health care team is you. It's important to play an active role in managing your kidney health by learning about your health, preparing for medical visits, and asking questions when you have them. If you are at risk for kidney disease, do not be afraid to ask your provider about your health. The answers may help you prevent kidney disease or slow it down if you already have it.

Tips for Your Health Care Visits

Be prepared. The more you plan for your visits, the more you will be able to learn about your health and treatment options. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your health care visits:

Make a list of questions

It's normal to have a lot of questions. Make a list of questions ahead of time so that you can remember everything when you are seeing your healthcare provider. You may want to ask about what tests are being done, what test results mean, or the changes you need to make to your diet and medicines.

Here are sample questions for:

• people who are at risk for kidney disease
• people with kidney disease

Bring a friend or relative with you for support

A trusted friend or family member can take notes, ask questions you may not have thought of, offer support, and help remember what the provider said during the visit. Talk ahead of time about what you want to get out of the visit and the role you would like him or her to play.