Bethenny Frankel announces stage 2 kidney disease diagnosis

Bethenny Frankel has been diagnosed with stage 2 chronic kidney disease.

“I have a medical announcement,” the Bravo alum shared via TikTok Thursday.

“Months ago, I decided I was going to be very proactive about blood tests … I started to take a series of blood tests, and each time my kidney function was coming up low.”

Frankel, 55, explained she had a doctor’s appointment earlier in the day, and received the diagnosis.

The “Real Housewives of New York City” alum shared that her condition could be the result of a “traumatic experience [she] had years ago when [she] almost died from an allergy attack,” or it could be an autoimmune disease.

She noted she learned that other infections could have led to the disease, saying that she used to get a lot of UTIs but “not as much anymore.”

8
Bethenny Frankel announced she was diagnosed with stage 2 chronic kidney disease.Tiktok/@bethennyfrankel

8
The TV personality shared the news via TikTok Thursday after returning from a doctor’s appointment.Tiktok/@bethennyfrankel

8
“Months ago, I decided I was going to be very proactive about blood tests,” she explained.bethennyfrankel/Instagram

8
Frankel added, “I started to take a series of blood tests, and each time my kidney function was coming up low.”Instagram/@bethennyfrankel
“I don’t drink a lot of water,” Frankel admitted. “I’m holding a bottle, but I’m not usually drinking it.”

“[My doctor] said, ‘Water is your medicine,’” she told viewers, adding that she has to drink up to 1.5 gallons per day.

The reality star was also told to lay off pain medications, such as ibuprofen and Advil, and supplements, such as turmeric.

8
The Bravo alum explained the diagnosis could’ve been a result of a “traumatic experience [she] had years ago when [she] almost died from an allergy attack.”Instagram/bethennyfrankel

8
However, the condition may also be autoimmune.

Want more celebrity and pop culture news?

Start your day with Page Six Daily.

Enter your email address

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Frankel stated that she was sharing her diagnosis not to get fans concerned about her, but to warn them to “take precautions” for their own health.

“Be mindful,” she urged her followers. “Maybe this is something I’ll have to deal with forever, but I just wanted to tell you because I think it’s important to go get all your bloodwork done.”

The Skinny Girl founder tends to be candid on social media, recently sharing that she got a facial bacterial infection after partying in St. Barts for New Year’s.

Become a Page Six Hollywood Insider for the best stories, commentary and analysis in the business of entertainment.

COMING SOON: Daily newsletters, weekly podcasts and exclusive events. Join now to stay in the know.
Become An Insider

Guild *
AMPAS
Television Academy
Golden Globe Awards
SAG-AFTRA
BAFTA
Recording Academy
Country Music Association
Producers Guild of America
Directors Guild of America
Writers Guild of America
Motion Picture Association
AMPTP
RIAA
N/A