Living Well with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Starter Workbook
 
Take control of your kidney health with a clear, practical workbook designed to help you understand chronic kidney disease without feeling overwhelmed.
 
This printable CKD Starter Workbook walks you through the basics of kidney function, CKD stages, common causes, important lab numbers, blood pressure tracking, medication safety, sodium awareness, food label reading, movement, symptoms, and visit preparation. It is built for patients who want to feel more organized, ask better questions, and create a simple action plan they can bring to their healthcare team.
 
Inside, you’ll find easy-to-use worksheets, trackers, reflection pages, checklists, and quick-reference tools, including a kidney numbers tracker, 7-day blood pressure log, medication and supplement list, sodium audit, meal planning worksheet, symptom tracker, care team page, and visit-prep questions. The workbook also includes patient-friendly visuals explaining CKD stages, risk factors, medications, nutrition, symptoms, and common myths. 
 
Created by Andrew Kowalski, MD, MPH, FASN, this workbook is designed to help patients move from confusion to clarity, one step at a time.
 
Perfect for:
Patients newly diagnosed with CKD
People with diabetes, high blood pressure, or protein in the urine
Family members helping a loved one understand kidney disease
Anyone who wants to track kidney health more confidently
Patients preparing for a nephrology visit
 
You will learn how to:
Understand eGFR, creatinine, urine protein, blood pressure, and other key kidney numbers
Track lab trends and home blood pressure readings
Identify common medication and supplement safety issues
Make practical food and sodium changes
Prepare better questions for your doctor or nephrologist
Build a simple kidney health action plan
 
Important: This workbook is for education and planning only. It does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your healthcare professional.