Also referred to as: Symptoms of Renal Disease
Kidney disease often presents a range of symptoms, which can include alterations in urination patterns (such as increased or decreased urine production, experiencing pressure during urination, changes in urine color, the presence of foamy or bubbly urine, or nighttime urination); swelling in the feet, ankles, hands, or face; feelings of fatigue or weakness; shortness of breath; the presence of an ammonia-like breath or an ammonia or metallic taste in the mouth; back or flank pain; itching; diminished appetite; nausea and vomiting; and an increased occurrence of hypoglycemic episodes in diabetics.
Diagnosing kidney disease can be achieved through laboratory tests or by recognizing these symptoms. Elevated levels of creatinine and urea nitrogen (BUN) in the blood, or the presence of high levels of protein in urine, are indicative of kidney disease. Individuals with diabetes should undergo an annual urine test for microalbumin, a type of protein that may not be detectable in standard urine protein tests.
