GFR: Understanding Glomerular Filtration Rate & Kidney Disease with tips to improve kidney function

Episode 60 - GFR: Understanding your Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) & Kidney Disease with tips to improve GFR. If you have kidney disease, then you have heard about a measurement called GFR. Did you know your GFR is NOT a measurement of kidney damage? Let's take a look at what is GFR, how it is used with kidney disease (CKD), and how to improve GFR levels/rate.

• GFR stands for Glomerular Filtration Rate. This measurement helps determine how well your kidneys are functioning. It measures the volume of blood needed to pass through the kidneys in a given amount of time in order to filter a given quantity of a substance, given in mL/min. The easiest and most common substance to measure is Creatinine and that is what we will focus on in this video.
• The GFR looks at the rate at which your kidneys are filtering your blood – not how much damage you have. Those with damaged nephrons (filters), blood vessel damage within the kidneys or reduced blood flow to the kidneys will have a lower filtration rate.
• GFR can’t be measured directly, so estimation is done based on one of several available formulas looking at your age, race, gender, the amount of creatinine in your blood, and possibly other factors. It is also possible to do a creatinine clearance test using a 24-hour waste collection to get your estimated GFR or eGFR
• The eGFR test may also not be right for everyone. It may not be accurate if you are younger than 18, pregnant, very overweight, or very muscular.
• Your GFR tends to decline naturally as we age, even in people without kidney disease.
• The GFR scale goes from 0 to 120. Normal will vary with age since it declines naturally, but typically it is: person in their 20s GFR 116, 30s 107, 40s 99, 50s 93, 60s 85, over 70 75.
• If your GFR is not normal, your doctor will do other tests. Doctors look for abnormal leaking of protein, sugar, red, or white blood cells.
• There are 5 stages of Kidney Disease and the stage you are in is determined by your GFR.
• Since the GFR scale goes from 0 to 120 – it is not a direct conversion to the percentage of kidney function remaining. A GFR of 60 would mean your kidney is functioning at 50% of a young adult. And remember, it is natural for your kidney function to decline as we age.
• While it is not possible with current medical science to repair the damage to your kidneys, it is possible to improve your GFR in many cases. Remember, GFR measures how well your kidneys filter, not the amount of damage done to them.
• Since the kidney damage is always present, it is possible that you can improve your GFR through diet and lifestyle changes, then quickly lose those gains in your GFR through diet choices and other lifestyle factors.
• Our goal is to remove stress, inflammation, and the workload placed on our kidneys so that we can improve our GFR as best as possible for as long as possible. Find that goldilocks zone of diet and lifestyle choices to maximize our kidney's ability to filter waste and toxins from our blood. For most people, the right diet and lifestyle can also minimize or eliminate symptoms when a GFR is between 20 and 30.
• Some prescription medications, kidney infections, urinary tract obstructions, abnormal muscle breakdown and eating a large amount of meat can elevate creatinine levels in your blood, temporarily lowering your GFR.
• Last, don’t focus too much on your GFR. While it is an important number, it really doesn’t tell you much and is only one of several indicators of your health. You need to focus on your overall health and your labs. You can’t easily tell someone what to do with a GFR of 59 or 49. But you know what to do if you are suffering from anemia.

IMPORTANT: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. Patients should always be under the care of a physician and defer to their physician for any and all treatment decisions. This video is not meant to replace a physician's advice, supervision, and counsel. No information in the video should be construed as medical advice. All medical decisions should be made by the patient and a qualified physician. This video is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE.

#DadviceTV #KidneyHealth #KidneyDisease #KidneyFailure #FightCKD #KidneyDiet

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[iBRINGpeaceday]

Just saw the nephrologist who basically told me to lose weight. Feeling so dejected, I search YouTube and found you. You give me hope. Can’t thank you enough.

[antonyetheridge]

i learnt more about kidney readings in that video than in 5 visits to my uninterested gp, thank you from the uk

[michaelofcvan]

This dude and Doctor Rosansky are saving more lives than a battalion of fire fighters. God bless both of your families!

[madmaninabox]

You’re doing really good, it’s great to see renal patients talking about kidney disease because they’re always more passionate and positive than renal doctors/ specialists.
I’ve had stage 5 for 32 years, spent 18 years in total on dialysis & have received 2 cadaver transplants. So I have quite a lot of knowledge & experience on the topic- love your comment about how a person is feeling as a ‘whole’, it’s so true. I’m in Australia and despite the science being forward thinking the specialists are always so negative. It’s really hard to find a good renal doctor. Luckily I keep on top of all my own blood results, because they don’t, they can’t even find them on the system most the time 🤦‍♀️

[JT-nmkv]

avoided red meat and exercise for two days before blood draw - and cut my diuretic dose in half for a week egfr went from 54 to 85 in the 10 days between blood

[merakli]

It's great that you are adding a written transcript below the video. Sometimes I really don't have time to watch the whole thing but I can quickly read the script. Thanks!

[shitzhu]

This guy grows on you the more you listen. Good useful video Thanks.

[marymeItsNowOrNever]

watching rn..gives me real understanding of eGFR and thus gives me hope!

[thealliaross]

Thank you so much for thoroughly explaining and helping me with the anxiety of a <60 reading. I need to be more consistent with my water intake.

[michaelofcvan]

James Fabin, I want you to know that since I have been studying both your's and Dr Rosansky's books over five weeks that I have raised my eGFR and have lost ten pounds. God bless you both.

[leilaalcorn]

Thank you ... your an amazing kidney warrior! Oh my... what you have overcome!
You have taught me so much.
Thank you once again.
You have helped me change my life.

[bonniehughes]

Thank you James for more info on the gfr. I have a better understanding of my kidney disease as I was concentrating on the GFR. I understand it is the stuff that remains in a person's system after the kidneys does the filtering. I am eating so much healthier now and I am feeling much better. I will find out what all my results will be in a few weeks. Thanks again and yes I fall off my diet every once in awhile but not where it causes more damage.

[RubenRodriguez-ulcv]

Thanks for a this video, nice voice tone and the way you explain is the best way I ever herd and understand about Gfr.

[kaywilmoth]

James, you are so positive and your information is great. In WV, and southern OH the 2 major dialysis centers will not let you have a renal dietitian until you are on dialysis. The nephrologists will not send you to one either, just any regular one who doesn't understand they have to tell you what you can eat. I moved across the state after having 5 nephrologists. I've been a 3b for 10 years and I have been to #6 one time. Boy, I hope he is helpful, the others -not so much, especially the University Professor, #3, who would have made me have a vein mapping years ago. I can see hope, thanks to you. My age is 62.

[dianneholt]

thanks Coach James! my GFR as of 2 weeks ago is 57. thanks for giving me some guidelines. helps me put it all together and motivates me to do more.. I also find out why my thyroid function has deteriorated.. Bottom line was I am taking too high a dose for the normal changes in my body. It is good to monitor the own blood test and seek advise and understand the changes and modifications needed. they of course was discussed with my Nurse Practitioner last night. She really cares and I admire her dedication.

[ricks]

This is useful; my GFR plummeted from 100 to 81 in four months. I've been obsessed with change, even though my doc says I'm fine. I'm 56 and have diabetes and hypertension. I've been working on my weight and completed a 5 day fast less than a week ago.

[nelin]

Thank you so much, I've learned so much from you.

[ulyssesjohnparado]

Thanks James!I tend to rue about my lowering GFR and Iam getting older!!

[kbroomall]

Thanks man appreciate the layman's terms explaination and advice