Questions to ask your nephrologist

Nephrologists are kidney doctors who diagnose, treat, and manage chronic kidney disease. Be prepared to ask the right questions of your doctor.

Female physician reviewing information with a man and woman

Nephrologists are kidney doctors who diagnose, treat, and manage chronic kidney disease. Before you decide on a treatment plan, you will want to understand the various chronic kidney disease treatment options. You should also discuss your disease prognosis, possible complications, and potential lifestyle changes with your nephrologist.

Getting the most out of the time you have with your healthcare team sometimes means asking the right questions.

Doctor giving patient the right information at the right time

Getting the right information at the right time

The information on this website is intended to supplement what you have discussed with your healthcare team. Combining this information of available chronic kidney disease treatment options with what you have already been told by your nephrologist may help you make important treatment decisions: 

  • To decide whether or not you want to undergo kidney replacement therapy 
  • To choose between different types of end-stage kidney disease treatment 
  • To decide whether you want to continue with the same CKD treatment 

What kidney disease treatment you choose to do should depend on what is important to you and the lifestyle you have. 

Patient asking Questions

3 good questions to ask your kidney doctor

When it comes to making decisions about your treatment plan with your healthcare team, it is good to ask these 3 questions: 

  1. What are the treatment options available to me? 
  2. What are the pros and cons of each treatment option? 
  3. How do I get support to help me make a decision that is right for me?  

 

Kidney Health New Zealand Logo

Kidney Health NZ focuses on raising awareness and education the public to help recognise the symptoms of kidney disease, providing essential resources for its treatment and management. They advocate for and coordinate research efforts into the prevention, early detection, and cure of kidney disease, while also striving to secure funding for such initiatives. Kidney Health NZ works closely with patient support groups to offer ongoing support and strengthen community involvement for those affected by kidney disease.