783k people need dialysis or a kidney transplant to live.
90K are on a waiting list for a transplant.
12 die every day waiting for a transplant.
We should remember the kidneys are one of the body’s filters.  The kidneys filter waste and excess fluid from the blood. As kidneys fail, waste builds up. Symptoms develop slowly and are often non-specific to kidney disease, because they are also symptoms of other diseases. Because your kidneys are able to make up for lost function for a time, you might not get the right diagnosis until irreversible damage has occurred.
 
On my side of the fence, one should keep these filters clean, just like we do our car filter and  air conditioner.  We clean the outside of our body and should consider the inside needs a cleaning at least two times a year.  Because I believe the body talks in symptoms, and speaks loudly long before levels will show up on any tests, I look for problems with the four front teeth on the top and bottom as they are related to the kidneys, any problems with your ears/hearing, lack of sexual interest, night sweats, thinning hair, osteoporosis/osteopenia, excess thirst, frequent urination/urination problems. Any combination of these shows the kidneys are not as healthy as they should be.