Can drinking more water improve my creatinine levels?

If elevated creatinine is partly due to dehydration, yes — adequate hydration can bring it down noticeably. Aim for 2.5–3 litres of water daily. However, if creatinine remains elevated after correcting hydration, further investigation is needed.

Is a creatinine of 1.3 mg/dL serious for a man?

It's mildly above the typical upper limit of 1.2 mg/dL and warrants attention — but it's not an emergency. A repeat test after adequate hydration, along with eGFR calculation, gives a much clearer picture. Discuss with your doctor.

My eGFR is 72 — should I be worried?

An eGFR of 72 falls in the 60–89 range, which is mildly reduced but still considered Stage 2 CKD only if other markers are also abnormal. In isolation, with no other KFT abnormalities and no symptoms, it may simply reflect your individual baseline. Your doctor will assess the full picture.

Can a vegetarian diet help protect kidney health?

A plant-based diet is generally gentler on the kidneys than a high-animal-protein diet. However, even vegetarians need to moderate high-purine foods (like large quantities of dal, rajma, and mushrooms) if uric acid is elevated. Work with a dietitian for personalised guidance.

How often should I get a KFT done?

For healthy adults with no risk factors — once a year as part of a routine check-up is sufficient. If you have diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of kidney disease — every 6 months. If you already have reduced kidney function — as frequently as your nephrologist advises.

Kidney Function Test Report Explained: What Your KFT Results Actually Mean

You went for a routine blood test and your report has a section labelled KFT or Kidney Function Test — sometimes also called RFT (Renal Function Test). There are values like Creatinine, Urea, eGFR, and Uric Acid staring back at you.

Your kidneys are two fist-sized organs sitting quietly at the back of your abdomen — and they work non-stop, filtering about 180 litres of blood every single day. They remove waste, balance fluids, regulate blood pressure, and keep your electrolytes in check.

The problem? Kidney disease is often called a silent condition — it causes no obvious symptoms in the early stages. By the time most people feel something is wrong, significant damage may already have occurred. That's exactly why your KFT report matters — and why understanding it early can make a real difference.

New to reading lab reports? Start with How to Understand Lab Test Results Online before diving in here.

Who Should Get a Kidney Function Test Done?

In India, KFT is recommended for:

People with diabetes — high blood sugar is the leading cause of kidney damage in India
People with high blood pressure (hypertension) — the second most common cause
Anyone with a family history of kidney disease
People who take NSAIDs (common painkillers like ibuprofen, diclofenac) regularly
Those on long-term medications including certain antibiotics and TB drugs
Anyone experiencing symptoms like swelling in feet, reduced urination, fatigue, or foamy urine
As part of a routine annual check-up, especially after age 40

KFT Normal Range — Complete Reference Table

These are the commonly accepted reference ranges for kidney function tests across Indian labs. Always refer to the range printed on your specific report, as values can vary slightly between labs.

Test	Normal Range	Unit
Serum Creatinine	Men: 0.7–1.2, Women: 0.5–1.0	mg/dL
Blood Urea (BUN)	7–20	mg/dL
eGFR	90 and above	mL/min/1.73m²
Uric Acid	Men: 3.4–7.0, Women: 2.4–6.0	mg/dL
Sodium	135–145	mEq/L
Potassium	3.5–5.0	mEq/L

Note: Ranges may vary slightly depending on the lab and the patient's age, sex, and muscle mass. Always refer to the reference range printed on your individual report.

Understanding Each KFT Value — In Plain Language

Serum Creatinine — The Most Common Kidney Marker

Creatinine is a waste product produced by your muscles during normal activity. Healthy kidneys filter creatinine out of the blood efficiently — so if they're not working well, creatinine builds up.

It's the most commonly tested kidney marker in India and often the first thing that raises a flag.

Important nuance: Creatinine levels are naturally influenced by muscle mass. A bodybuilder or a very muscular person may have a slightly higher creatinine that is perfectly normal for them. Conversely, elderly patients or those with low muscle mass may have low creatinine even with reduced kidney function.

High Creatinine means: kidneys are not filtering as efficiently as they should be.

Common causes in India:

Chronic kidney disease (often from long-term diabetes or hypertension)
Severe dehydration — creatinine can spike temporarily when you're not drinking enough water
Regular use of NSAIDs (ibuprofen, diclofenac) — extremely common in India
High protein diet or intense exercise (mild, temporary elevation)

Mildly elevated creatinine (1.3–1.6 mg/dL in men): warrants repeat testing and further investigation. Could be dehydration or early kidney stress.

Significantly elevated creatinine (above 2.0 mg/dL): needs urgent medical attention.

BUN / Blood Urea — The Protein Waste Marker

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) measures another waste product — urea — produced when your body breaks down protein. Like creatinine, it builds up when kidneys aren't filtering properly.

However, BUN is also affected by diet and hydration:

A high-protein diet (common with gym-goers eating large quantities of dal, paneer, or protein supplements) can raise BUN even with healthy kidneys
Dehydration concentrates blood and raises BUN

Doctors use the BUN-to-Creatinine ratio to differentiate:

Ratio above 20:1 → often indicates dehydration or reduced blood flow to kidneys
Ratio below 10:1 → may suggest liver disease or low protein intake
Ratio 10–20:1 with both elevated → points to kidney disease itself

eGFR — The Most Accurate Picture of Kidney Health

eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate) is considered the best single measure of how well your kidneys are filtering. It's calculated using your creatinine value, age, and sex.

Think of eGFR as a percentage of kidney function working optimally:

eGFR Value	What It Means	Stage
90 and above	Normal kidney function	Stage 1 (if other markers normal)
60 – 89	Mildly reduced	Stage 2 — monitor
45 – 59	Mildly to moderately reduced	Stage 3a — see a doctor
30 – 44	Moderately to severely reduced	Stage 3b — nephrology referral
15 – 29	Severely reduced	Stage 4 — specialist care needed
Below 15	Kidney failure	Stage 5 — dialysis or transplant

Important: An eGFR between 60–89 with no other abnormal markers and no symptoms is often seen in older adults and may just reflect age-related decline — not disease. Context matters enormously here.

Uric Acid — More Than Just Gout

Uric Acid is a waste product from the breakdown of purines — substances found in certain foods like red meat, organ meats, seafood, and even dal and rajma in large quantities.

High uric acid — called hyperuricemia — is increasingly common in urban India, driven by rich diets, alcohol consumption, and metabolic syndrome.

High uric acid can cause:

Gout — sudden, severe joint pain, most commonly in the big toe
Kidney stones — uric acid crystals can deposit in the kidneys
Kidney damage — chronic high uric acid can directly injure kidney tissue over time

Low uric acid is rare and less clinically significant.

Electrolytes — Sodium, Potassium, Chloride

The kidney is the master regulator of your body's electrolyte balance. When kidneys are stressed, Sodium, Potassium, and Chloride levels can go out of range.

High Potassium (Hyperkalemia) is particularly important — it can cause dangerous heart rhythm problems and is one of the serious complications of advanced kidney disease.

Low Sodium (Hyponatremia) in a KFT context can suggest the kidneys are retaining too much water, or it can be from vomiting, diarrhoea, or excessive sweating — all very common in the Indian summer.

What High KFT Values Mean in Indian Context

Diabetes — The Number One Culprit

India has one of the world's largest diabetic populations. Chronically high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys (a condition called diabetic nephropathy). The damage is slow and silent — taking years to develop — which is why diabetics are advised to get KFT done every 6–12 months even if they feel perfectly fine.

Early detection through KFT — catching a rising creatinine or falling eGFR — can slow the progression significantly with proper management.

Hypertension — The Silent Pressure

High blood pressure physically damages kidney blood vessels over time. Many Indians with uncontrolled hypertension develop chronic kidney disease without realising it.

Painkiller Overuse

NSAIDs like ibuprofen and diclofenac — available over the counter at every medical shop in India — are among the most common causes of drug-induced kidney injury. Regular use for arthritis, back pain, or even headaches can quietly damage kidneys over months and years.

What Low KFT Values Mean

Low Creatinine: usually seen in elderly patients, women, or people with very low muscle mass. Rarely a concern on its own.
Low BUN: can indicate low protein intake or liver disease reducing urea production.
Low eGFR: as explained above — the lower the eGFR, the more reduced the kidney function.
Low Sodium: dehydration (paradoxically), vomiting, excessive sweating, or kidney not conserving sodium properly.
Low Potassium: excessive diarrhoea, vomiting, or diuretic medications — common in patients on BP medications.

Real-Life Example: Suresh's Ignored Report

Suresh, a 52-year-old shopkeeper from Hyderabad with Type 2 diabetes for 8 years, got a routine KFT done. His results:

Creatinine: 1.6 mg/dL (H — above normal for men)
eGFR: 54 mL/min/1.73m² (reduced — Stage 3a)
Blood Urea: 48 mg/dL (H)
Potassium: 5.4 mEq/L (H — borderline)

He felt completely fine and was tempted to ignore the report. Instead, he uploaded it to Bharat Swasth. The AI flagged that his eGFR of 54 indicated Stage 3a chronic kidney disease — not alarming yet, but a critical window to slow the damage.

His doctor adjusted his diabetes medications (some diabetes drugs need dose reduction at lower eGFR levels), tightened blood pressure control, asked him to reduce protein slightly, and cut NSAIDs completely. Two years later, his eGFR has stabilised at 51 — the damage has not progressed.

Early detection made all the difference.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming you'd feel symptoms if your kidneys were struggling. Early kidney disease has no symptoms. The only way to catch it early is through a KFT.
Drinking less water and ignoring mildly high creatinine. Dehydration is a very common and easily reversible cause of elevated creatinine.
Continuing painkillers without mentioning them to your doctor. NSAIDs are kidney-toxic with regular use.
Not monitoring KFT annually if you're diabetic or hypertensive. These two conditions together account for the majority of chronic kidney disease cases in India.
Panicking over a mildly low eGFR in old age. eGFR naturally declines with age.

Still Confused About Your KFT Report?

Upload your kidney function test report on Bharat Swasth and get an instant plain-language breakdown — every value explained, flagged values highlighted, and clear context on what needs follow-up.

Available on: Web · WhatsApp · Android · iOS

Analyse your KFT report free → bharatswasth.com or WhatsApp your report directly at wa.me/917014313919.

Your Kidneys Work in Silence — Don't Wait for Them to Shout

Kidney disease progresses quietly for years before causing obvious symptoms. Your KFT report is one of the most powerful tools you have to catch problems early — when they're still very much manageable.

Understand your Creatinine, track your eGFR, and pay attention to your electrolytes. And if you'd like your full report explained in one go — Bharat Swasth is built exactly for that.

Your kidneys are filtering for you every second. Give them the attention they deserve.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.