October 2025 CKD Insider Newsletter
- one track health
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Welcome to the Chronic Kidney Disease Insider Newsletter. If you are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis, have had a kidney transplant or are helping care for someone who is, this newsletter was created for you! The CKD Insider Newsletter provides actionable information for you and your family to help you manage your health in consultation with your doctor.
In this month’s CKD Insider:
Latest News from Kidney Organizations
NKF Kidney Walks coming up this November
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Kidney Walks are fundraising events, and allow NKF to provide real-time assistance for those in need. Per NKF: More than 80 cents of every dollar donated goes to research, patient services, professional education, public health education, and community services. They are also a great way to connect with people who are going through a similar situation as you. Let us know if you are attending the NY Walk this year!
Find your local walk here.
TransplantLyfe - Temple Health 2025 Patient Summit
This is a great opportunity to get practical tips from patients and medical professionals. Patient-identified challenges will be discussed directly by medical experts, researchers, and patients. You’ll hear real stories from patients and families and get advice from healthcare providers that you can use right away. All sessions will be in simple, everyday language per the organizers.
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
Time: 9 AM – 3 PM EST
Location: Marriott Philadelphia West, West Conshohocken, PA
AAKP webinar: Advancing Kidney Care for Veterans
This American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) Healthline webinar is an opportunity to learn more about how the Veterans Administration (VA) Kidney Medicine program can help you. There will be a review of the full range of services they offer from early diagnosis and treatment to slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), to dialysis care provided both within VA facilities and through Community Care, and the VA’s kidney transplant program.
For people on dialysis, panelists will also discuss current strategies to reduce catheter use and minimize infections, and key components of improving outcomes and quality of life for veterans living with kidney disease.
Date: November 20th
Time: 2:00 PM - -3:00 PM ET
Register here.
Read the latest AAKP Dialysis Resources
Enhanced advanced premium tax credits that make health insurance affordable for millions of Americans are set to expire at the end of 2025.T hese subsidies have reduced insurance premiums by an average of $800 annually, making the difference between having coverage and going without. For the 37 million Americans with kidney disease—90% of whom don't even know they have it—affordable insurance means access to the screenings, medications, and early interventions that can prevent kidney failure entirely. Congress has the power to extend these life-saving subsidies, but they need to hear from constituents like you. Your representative needs to understand that kidney patients in their district are counting on their vote.
Get help finding your local representative here.
Your Fun Tip of the Day
Boost Your Mood with Good News!
Sometimes the news can make the day feel heavy, it’s easy to get stuck in all the negativity, and that can take a toll on your mood and energy. A simple way to lift your spirits while you’re sitting in dialysis and throughout your day is to curate your own daily dose of good news. A few uplifting stories can help your mind feel lighter and give you something positive to focus on. For all the bad news you hear, there is even more good news out there you just need to find it, and curating your own personal news channel is a great way to do it!
Start with a positive scroll. Instead of diving straight into breaking news, check out the sites below that focus on uplifting stories.
Set a “news window.” Limit yourself to checking the news once or twice a day. Then fill the rest of your screen time with something that makes you feel good — music, laughter, hobbies, or a short walk outside.
Share the positivity. When you come across a story that makes you smile, pass it on! Sharing good news doesn’t just lift your spirits, it can lift someone else’s too.
Staying informed is important, but so is staying uplifted. Protecting your mindset is part of protecting your overall health. A positive outlook can help you feel more energized, hopeful, and ready to take on each day.
Check out these good news options to get started!
Also try hashtags like #GoodNews or #FeelGoodFriday on social media for quick hits of positivity.
Try this tip if you get your news from the apple news section of your iphone:
Go to the "Following" button on the bottom right of apple news
Put in the search bar at the top as many positive channels as you can think of and follow them, this will help change the algorithm of the news they show you. Examples: Optimism, Well +Good, Real Simple, Upworthy, anything that will bring more positivity into your life
Also when you click on a news story, look on the upper left hand side , you will see a thumbs up/thumbs down icon, click thumbs down any stories that add negativity to your day!
Do the same for your other social media channels, if your on Instagram for example only follow the people that bring positivity into your world! You are in control, take care of yourself!
FDA approves Gazyva for Lupus Nephritis
What it is: Gazyva was approved in 2016 for the treatment of lymphoma for patients who did not respond to rituximab. Gazyva, also known as Obinutuzumab, is a monoclonal antibody that targets the CD20 protein on the surface of B cells, eliminating them. In October, the FDA approved Gazyva for the treatment of lupus nephritis.
Why it’s important: Lupus is an autoimmune disease that is mediated by B cells. These B cells produce autoantibodies that recognize self-antigens rather than antigens from pathogens like viruses or bacteria. A common complication of lupus is kidney damage, known as lupus nephritis. By eliminating B cells that produce autoantibodies, Gazyva can prevent further tissue damage.
You can see the FDA approval and indications here.
Now Enrolling: GraftAssureDx Trial Aims to Improve Early Detection of Kidney Transplant Rejection
What it is: A clinical trial to evaluate a new kidney rejection test has begun enrolling participants. The test, called GraftAssureDx, will be compared with standard rejection testing. GraftAssureDx measures circulating cell-free DNA from the donor kidney in a recipient's blood sample.
Why it’s important: Early detection may give healthcare providers a chance to treat and prevent rejection. Measuring donor-derived cell-free DNA in a blood sample enables less invasive, more frequent rejection testing. The trial is currently enrolling in six different states. You can learn more about the trial and see trial locations here.
Breakthrough Brings Hope: Scientists Turn Donor Kidney into Universal Match
What it is: Researchers successfully convert the blood type of an incompatible donor kidney, avoiding acute rejection. Researchers successfully converted a blood type A donor kidney to the universal type O and transplanted it to a blood type–mismatched recipient, where no acute rejection was observed.
Why it’s important: One of the biggest hurdles to kidney donation is blood-type compatibility, and many organs go unused due to a blood type mismatch. Blood type O is considered the universal blood type as it lacks type A and B antigens. By being able to convert the blood type of any donor organ to a type O, could help make more kidneys available to people waiting on transplant lists for a match.
You can read more here:
Spoon Theory: A Gentle Way to Understand and Manage Daily Fatigue
A relatable way to explain what it’s like to live with a chronic illness is through the Spoon Theory. If you haven't heard of it, we encourage you to read this story. In it, writer Christine Miserandino shares how she described life with lupus to a friend using a simple metaphor involving spoons. In this metaphor, spoons represent the energy needed to tackle everyday tasks, such as getting dressed, commuting to work, picking up kids, and making dinner. Everyone starts the day with a limited number of spoons, but for those living with chronic conditions like lupus or chronic kidney disease, the number of spoons is much smaller. Because of this, those spoons must be spent wisely.
Even keeping track of those spoons takes energy. Spoonie Day is an app that helps lighten the mental load by tracking energy and planning daily activities in a way that feels manageable, helping you spend your spoons wisely.
Know someone who could use a kidney health boost and a smile? Share this newsletter and help them stay inspired and informed!
Download the OneTrackHealth app and keep the momentum going!
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