Draft: not yet reviewed by a clinician

Use this page to prepare questions for your care team. It does not replace their advice. Your own targets and doses come from your nephrologist, diabetes team and renal dietitian.

Glossary¶

Plain meanings of the words you will hear from your care team and read in this handbook. We use the words KDIGO agreed on in 2020: "kidney" rather than "renal", and "kidney failure" rather than "end-stage" (KDIGO nomenclature). Abbreviations show a short meaning when you hover over or tap them anywhere on the site. Lab units are explained on Units and conversions.

A¶

A1c (HbA1c, A1C): A blood test that shows your average glucose over the last 2–3 months. It becomes less reliable at stage 4–5 and on dialysis (KDIGO 2022, practice point 2.1.2). See A1c.
ACE inhibitor (ACEi): A blood pressure medicine that also lowers the albumin leak and protects the kidneys (KDIGO 2024, recommendation 3.6.3).
Acute kidney injury (AKI): A sudden drop in kidney function over hours or days, for example from dehydration, an infection or some medicines. It is different from CKD, which lasts at least 3 months (KDIGO nomenclature).
AGP (ambulatory glucose profile): The standard one-page CGM report: 14 days of readings drawn as one typical day, with time in ranges and the statistics (time in range consensus). See CGM metrics.
Albumin: The main protein in blood. In the urine it is an early sign of kidney damage. In the blood, a low level can mean poor nutrition or inflammation. See UACR and Albumin.
Albuminuria: Albumin in the urine, measured as UACR. Grouped as A1, A2 or A3 (KDIGO 2024, Table 3).
Anemia: Too few red blood cells, which causes tiredness and breathlessness. In CKD it means hemoglobin under 13 g/dL (130 g/L) in men or under 12 g/dL (120 g/L) in women (KDIGO 2026 anemia).
ARB (angiotensin receptor blocker): A blood pressure medicine that protects the kidneys in the same way as an ACE inhibitor (KDIGO 2024, recommendation 3.6.3).
AV fistula: A join made by a surgeon between an artery and a vein, usually in the arm, so that it can be used for hemodialysis. You can feel a buzz (the thrill) over it (NKF).
AV graft: A soft tube placed under the skin to join an artery and a vein, used for hemodialysis when a fistula is not possible (NIDDK).

B¶

Basal insulin: Long-acting or background insulin that covers the body's needs between meals and overnight.
Bicarbonate: A blood test of the body's acid balance. Kidneys remove acid, so bicarbonate can fall in CKD (NIDDK). Lab reports may call it CO2, total CO2 (TCO2) or HCO3. See Bicarbonate.
Binder (phosphate binder): A medicine taken with meals that holds on to phosphorus in food so less of it is absorbed.
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): Urea nitrogen forms when protein breaks down. BUN can be high in kidney failure, but also with dehydration, bleeding in the gut or a lot of protein, so teams rely on eGFR to judge filtering (MedlinePlus).
BMI (body mass index): Weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. The app uses it to choose the weight that protein and energy goals are based on. See Targets and warnings.
Bolus insulin: Rapid-acting insulin taken for a meal or to correct a high glucose.

C¶

CGM (continuous glucose monitor): A small sensor that reads glucose every few minutes and shows trends on a phone or reader. Some CGMs connect to a pump that adjusts insulin automatically (automated insulin delivery, AID).
Chronic kidney disease (CKD): Kidney damage, or an eGFR under 60, that lasts at least 3 months (KDIGO 2024, Table 1). See What CKD is.
CKD-MBD: CKD–mineral and bone disorder: changes in calcium, phosphate, PTH and vitamin D that affect the bones and blood vessels (KDIGO 2017).
Coefficient of variation (CV): On a CGM report, how much your glucose swings. 36 % or less is the usual goal (time in range consensus).
Conservative kidney management: Care for kidney failure that focuses on symptoms and quality of life, without dialysis or a transplant (NIDDK).
Creatinine: A waste product from the normal breakdown of muscle. The blood level is used to work out eGFR (NIDDK).
Cystatin C: Another blood marker of filtering. Combined with creatinine it gives a more accurate eGFR (KDIGO 2024, recommendation 1.1.2.1).

D¶

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA): A dangerous build-up of ketones that makes the blood acidic. It is defined by ketones of 3.0 mmol/L or more with acid in the blood, in someone with diabetes, whatever their glucose (2024 consensus). See Get help now.
Dialysate: The cleaning fluid used in dialysis.
Dialysis: A treatment that does some of the kidneys' work by removing waste and extra fluid. See hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
Dry weight: Your weight without extra fluid, set by your dialysis team. Weight gained above it between sessions is mostly fluid (NIDDK). See Fluid.

E¶

ECG (electrocardiogram): A painless tracing of the heart's electrical activity. High potassium can change it.
eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate): How well your kidneys filter, worked out from a creatinine blood test plus age and sex (CKD-EPI 2021 equation). Measured in mL/min/1.73 m². Grouped as G1 to G5 (KDIGO 2024, Table 2). See CKD stages.
Electrolytes: Minerals in the blood such as sodium, potassium and bicarbonate. Kidneys keep them in balance (NIDDK).
End-stage renal disease (ESRD): An older name for kidney failure. Medicare still uses it as the legal name for kidney failure treated with dialysis or a transplant (Medicare). This handbook says "kidney failure" (KDIGO nomenclature).
ESA (erythropoiesis-stimulating agent): An injection that helps the body make red blood cells, used for anemia in CKD (KDIGO 2026 anemia). ESAs copy erythropoietin (EPO), the hormone healthy kidneys make.
Exit site: The place where a dialysis catheter comes out through the skin. Redness, pus or pain there can mean infection (NIDDK).

F – G¶

Ferritin and TSAT (transferrin saturation): Blood tests of iron stores. Low results mean the body may not have enough iron to make red blood cells (KDIGO 2026 anemia). See Hemoglobin and iron.
Finerenone (Kerendia): A kidney-protecting medicine (a non-steroidal MRA). In 2026 it was FDA-approved to lower UACR in adults with CKD and type 1 diabetes (Kerendia label).
G category: The filtering part of your CKD stage, from G1 (eGFR 90 or more) to G5 (under 15) (KDIGO 2024, Table 2).
GDO, GDH-PQQ and GDH-FAD: Names of chemistries used in some glucose meters and test strips. On icodextrin peritoneal dialysis fluid, GDH-PQQ and GDO strips and some GDH-FAD strips can read falsely high (MHRA). See Peritoneal dialysis.
GFR (glomerular filtration rate): How much fluid the kidneys' filters clear from the blood each minute. eGFR is the estimate from a blood test (KDIGO 2024, Table 2).
Glomerulus (plural glomeruli): One of the tiny filters in the kidney.
Glucagon: A rescue medicine for a severe low, given by injection or nasal spray by another person (ADA 2026 §6).
GMI (glucose management indicator): An A1c-like number worked out from CGM data (KDIGO 2022, practice point 2.1.3).

H¶

Hemodialysis (HD): Dialysis in which blood is cleaned by a machine and filter outside the body, usually 3 times a week in a center, or more often at home (home hemodialysis, HHD) (NIDDK).
Hemoglobin: The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Low hemoglobin is anemia (KDIGO 2026 anemia).
Hyperglycemia: High blood glucose.
Hyperkalemia: High potassium in the blood. KDIGO calls 6.0–6.4 mmol/L moderate and 6.5 mmol/L or more severe (KDIGO 2024, Table 28). See Blood potassium.
Hypoglycemia (a low): Low blood glucose: level 1 is under 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), level 2 is under 54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L), and level 3 is any low where you need someone else's help (ADA 2026 §6). See Treating a low.

I – K¶

Icodextrin (Extraneal): A peritoneal dialysis fluid that can make some glucose meters read falsely high (MHRA).
Immunosuppressants (anti-rejection medicines): Medicines taken every day after a transplant so the immune system does not attack the new kidney (NIDDK).
Interdialytic weight gain (IDWG): The weight you gain between hemodialysis sessions, mostly from fluid.
IV (intravenous): Into a vein, as in an IV drip or IV line. Before dialysis, ask staff to keep IVs and blood draws out of the arm your team wants to save for a fistula (KDOQI, statement 6.10).
Ketones: Acids made when the body burns fat because it lacks insulin. A blood ketone meter reads them in mmol/L. High ketones can lead to DKA (2024 consensus).
Kidney failure: An eGFR under 15 (G5), or needing dialysis or a transplant. The KDIGO word for what used to be called end-stage kidney or renal disease (KDIGO nomenclature; KDIGO 2024, Table 2).
Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE): A tested calculation that uses age, sex, eGFR and UACR to estimate your chance of kidney failure in 2 and 5 years (KDIGO 2024, recommendation 2.2.1).
Kidney replacement therapy (KRT): Dialysis or a kidney transplant. Older name: renal replacement therapy (KDIGO 2024).

M – N¶

MRA (mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist): A group of medicines that block a hormone that harms the kidneys and heart. Finerenone is one (Kerendia label).
Nephrologist: A doctor who specializes in the kidneys.
Nephrotic syndrome: Very heavy protein loss in the urine, usually a UACR above about 2,200 mg/g (220 mg/mmol), with swelling (KDIGO 2022, albuminuria categories).
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; one is an NSAID): Pain medicines such as ibuprofen and naproxen. They can harm the kidneys; see Medicines to avoid.

P¶

Peritoneal dialysis (PD): Dialysis inside your body: fluid goes into the belly through a catheter, collects waste and extra fluid through the lining of the belly (the peritoneum), and is drained out. Done by hand in the day (CAPD) or by a machine at night (APD) (NIDDK).
Peritonitis: Infection of the belly lining, a risk on PD. Cloudy fluid, belly pain and fever are warning signs (NIDDK).
Phosphorus (phosphate): A mineral in food. When kidneys fail it can build up in the blood and weaken bones (KDIGO 2017). On ingredient lists, "PHOS" in a name means a phosphate additive. See Phosphorus.
PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter): A long IV line put in through a vein in the arm. KDOQI advises avoiding them when you may need a fistula later (KDOQI, statement 6.10). See Dialysis access.
POLST (also MOLST, POST or MOST): A portable medical order, signed by a health care professional, that turns your wishes about treatment into orders that travel with you (National POLST). See Advance care planning.
Practice point (PP): Expert advice in a KDIGO guideline. Practice points are not graded: KDIGO uses them where no formal evidence review was done or the evidence was too thin for a graded recommendation (KDIGO 2024).
Pre-emptive transplant: A kidney transplant done before dialysis is needed (KDIGO 2024, practice point 5.4.3).
PTH (parathyroid hormone): A hormone that controls calcium and phosphate; it often rises in CKD (KDIGO 2017).

R – S¶

RAAS (renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system): Hormones that raise blood pressure and hold on to salt. ACE inhibitors and ARBs block part of it (the renin–angiotensin system, RAS), and MRAs block aldosterone (KDIGO 2024).
REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy): An FDA safety program for some medicines. The mycophenolate REMS ended in 2026, but the label's pregnancy warnings still apply (FDA; Mycophenolate REMS).
Renal: An older word for "kidney" (KDIGO nomenclature).
Renal dietitian: A dietitian who specializes in kidney disease (KDIGO 2024, practice point 3.3.2).
Retinopathy: Diabetic damage to the back of the eye. Having it, or not, helps show whether kidney disease comes from diabetes. See Type 1 diabetes and your kidneys.
SGLT2 inhibitor (SGLT2i): A medicine approved for type 2 diabetes and, for some of them, for kidney disease or heart failure. It is not approved for type 1 diabetes in the US: its safety there has not been established, and DKA is a concern (KDIGO 2022; Farxiga label).
Sick-day plan: Your team's written plan for when you are ill: how often to check glucose and ketones, which medicines to pause and when to restart them (KDIGO 2024, practice point 4.3.2).

T – Z¶

T1D, T2D: Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Thrill: The buzz you feel over a working fistula or graft. If it stops or changes, call your team right away (NKF).
Time in range (TIR): The share of the day your CGM reads 70–180 mg/dL (3.9–10.0 mmol/L) (time in range consensus). See CGM metrics.
Transplant: An operation to place a healthy kidney from a donor. A pancreas can be transplanted at the same time (simultaneous pancreas–kidney, SPK) for some people with type 1 diabetes (NIDDK; OPTN).
UACR (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio): A urine test for albumin. 30 mg/g (3 mg/mmol) or more is a sign of kidney damage (KDIGO 2024, Table 1). See UACR.
Uremia: Symptoms from waste building up when the kidneys fail, such as poor appetite, nausea, itching and tiredness (KDIGO 2024, practice point 5.2.2.1 and Tables 38 and 41).
Vascular access: The way blood gets to the hemodialysis machine: a fistula, a graft or a catheter (NKF). See Dialysis access.

Other abbreviations¶

Names of organizations, studies, benefit programs and the technical words used on the app and self-hosting pages. Each one also shows its meaning when you hover over or tap it.

Organizations, guidelines and studies

Abbreviation	Meaning
AACE	American Association of Clinical Endocrinology
AAKP	American Association of Kidney Patients
AASM	American Academy of Sleep Medicine
ACR	American College of Radiology
ADA	American Diabetes Association
AHRQ	US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
AKF	American Kidney Fund
CDC	US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDCES	Certified diabetes care and education specialist
CJASN	Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
CMS	US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
DOPPS	Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study
EASD	European Association for the Study of Diabetes
FDA	US Food and Drug Administration
FDC, SR	FoodData Central, the USDA food composition database; SR is its Standard Reference data set
GLIM	Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition
ISPD	International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis
ISRNM	International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism
JBDS	Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care
KDIGO	Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes, the international kidney guideline group
KDOQI	Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative of the US National Kidney Foundation
MHRA	UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
NEJM	New England Journal of Medicine
NGSP	The program that standardizes A1c tests
NHS	National Health Service (UK)
NIDDK	US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
NIH	US National Institutes of Health
NKF	National Kidney Foundation (US)
OPTN, UNOS	Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network; United Network for Organ Sharing, which runs it (US)
PEMAT	Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool
PLADO	Plant-dominant low-protein diet
RDN	Registered dietitian nutritionist
USDA	US Department of Agriculture
WHO	World Health Organization

Food, labels and everyday words

Abbreviation	Meaning
DV	Daily Value on a US Nutrition Facts label
KCl	Potassium chloride, used in many salt substitutes
MSG	Monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer that contains sodium
OTC	Over the counter: sold without a prescription
RDA	Recommended dietary allowance
UVB	Ultraviolet B light
US, UK, EU	United States, United Kingdom, European Union

Insurance, benefits and work (US)

Abbreviation	Meaning
CFR	Code of Federal Regulations
COBRA	A law that lets you keep an employer's health plan for a time after leaving the job
EEOC	Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
FMLA	Family and Medical Leave Act
HIPP	Health Insurance Premium Program (American Kidney Fund grants)
HR	Human resources
JAN	Job Accommodation Network
SSA	Social Security Administration
SSDI	Social Security Disability Insurance
SSI	Supplemental Security Income
TSA	Transportation Security Administration

App and self-hosting

Abbreviation	Meaning
AI	Artificial intelligence: here, an optional language model you connect to the app
API	Application programming interface: how one program asks another for data
CA	Certificate authority: an organization that issues HTTPS certificates
CDN	Content delivery network
CGNAT	Carrier-grade NAT, the 100.64.0.0/10 address range
CLI	Command-line interface
CPU	The computer's processor
CSP	Content Security Policy, a browser security header
CSV	Comma-separated values, a spreadsheet file format
DNS	Domain name system: turns names into network addresses
GDPR	EU General Data Protection Regulation
HSTS	HTTP Strict Transport Security: tells browsers to use HTTPS only
HTTP, HTTPS	How browsers and servers talk; HTTPS is the encrypted version
IP	Internet Protocol (as in "IP address")
JSON	A plain-text data file format
LAN	Local area network: your home or office network
MB, MiB	Megabyte; mebibyte (1,048,576 bytes)
NFS	Network file system
NIST	US National Institute of Standards and Technology
PVC	PersistentVolumeClaim: storage in Kubernetes
SBOM	Software bill of materials
UID	User ID number on Linux
URL	A web address
USB	Universal Serial Bus, the common cable socket
VM	Virtual machine
VPN	Virtual private network

Sources¶

Not yet reviewed by a clinician. Facts and sources last checked 2026-10-06.