Bethenny Frankel Reveals Alarming Stage 2 Kidney Disease Diagnosis, Urges Fans Not to Ignore the Warning Signs
Bethenny Frankel is getting real — and a little raw — about a health scare she says she didn’t see coming.
The Real Housewives of New York alum revealed on TikTok that she has been diagnosed with stage 2 chronic kidney disease, and she says she is not speaking out of sympathy, but as a warning. “I have a medical announcement. Not because I want you to worry, but because I want you to take precautions in your own life, be aware.” Bethenny55, said in his Jan. 22 video.
According to SkinnyGirl founder, this was not an accidental discovery. She said she has been staying on top of her health with routine tests. “I had been proactive about blood work, bone density, all the things,” she explained — but repeated labs showed something was wrong.
“My kidney function was getting low. That led to a referral to a kidney specialist — a visit she admittedly tried to avoid. “I didn’t feel like going … I didn’t feel like going today,” she admitted. Still, she went — and the news hit hard.
“He said to me, ‘You have stage 2 chronic kidney disease'” Bethenny shared, adding that doctors believe it may be autoimmune-related or tied to a near-fatal allergic reaction she suffered years ago. “It could have been caused by “this traumatic experience I had years ago when I almost died from an allergy attack. It could have damaged the kidney.” ” Stage 2 kidney disease involves a mild loss of kidney function, and doctors say it can often be managed with close monitoring and blood pressure control.
But Bethenny Frankel revealed that the condition may already be affecting her daily life.
She said it’s likely due to recurring infections. “I understand UTIsnot so much more,” she noted. And when it comes to treatment, the advice was simple — but not easy for her. “I don’t drink a lot of water … I keep a bottle, but I don’t usually drink it.” When she told her doctor she’s drinking kombucha instead, she said his answer was direct: “Water is your medicine. You have to drink a huge one — I think he said 1.5 (gallons) — and you can put your hydration packs in it.” The doctor also gave her a long list of don’ts — including ibuprofen, Aleve, Advil, turmeric and even ice cream, which she ate during the video. “I remembered afterwards,” she joked.
This diagnosis is just the latest in a series of health problems for Bethenny. In 2023, she was diagnosed with lung COVID and the autoimmune condition POTTERY. Earlier this month, she also battled a bacterial infection while on vacation St. Barth’s.
Bethenny Frankel said she decided to be transparent because this might not be temporary. “Maybe this is something I’ll have to deal with forever, but I just wanted to let you know because I think it’s important to go and get all your blood work done.” She urged followers to be vigilant. “Be thorough,” she said, urging regular tests and follow-ups.
“Then do the follow-ups for anything that seems like an abnormality. And honestly, get your blood work done maybe six months and then six months later because different things can show up and sometimes it’s an aberration and sometimes it means something.”
In her case, she said, “In this case, it was a pattern.” And in truth Bethenny fashion, she concluded with a mix of honesty and humor — saying she’s still trying to understand what it all means and joking that she’s hoping to get the all-clear from “part-time doctors” on TikTok. “I don’t know exactly what that means. Many of you will, and that’s why I’m sharing with you.”
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Nancy Zhāng is the entertainment blogger for All About The Tea. Nancy covers hot topics, recaps and celeb news. She loves to multi-task as a writer and private chef. She received a BS in Mass Communication from LSU. Nancy is married and the proud mother of 2 German Shepherds.
