What should you know about stage three chronic kidney disease?

Chronic kidney disease is a lasting reduction or abnormality in kidney function. Stage three is often divided into earlier and later parts, based on estimated filtration results. Your clinician interprets the result alongside urine testing, blood pressure, medicines, and whether the change is stable over time.

Some people have no noticeable symptoms. Others may develop tiredness, swelling, changes in urination, itching, or reduced appetite. Fatigue can have many causes, including anaemia, and excessive thirst may reflect fluid or blood-sugar issues rather than kidney disease alone. The stage describes kidney function; it does not predict exactly how one person will feel.

Keep follow-up appointments for blood and urine checks. Take prescribed blood-pressure or diabetes treatment as directed, and ask before using anti-inflammatory pain medicines, supplements, or herbal products because some can strain the kidneys. Avoid changing fluid or salt intake without personalised advice, especially if you have swelling or heart problems.

Your care team may review blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, urine protein, and medicines. Conditions such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes commonly need coordinated management. Bring an up-to-date medicine list and mention new symptoms such as swelling, breathlessness, or persistent nausea.

Contact your clinician promptly for a marked change in urine, increasing swelling, repeated vomiting, worsening breathlessness, severe weakness, confusion, or inability to keep fluids down. Seek urgent care for severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, or sudden confusion. These symptoms need assessment and should not be judged by the kidney stage alone.

Ask which filtration and urine results define your stage, whether they are stable, and when they should be repeated. Ask whether you have urine protein, which medicines need dose changes, how to manage blood pressure and diabetes, and which symptoms should trigger an urgent call.