Bethenny Frankel first said in January 2026 that a kidney specialist had diagnosed her with stage 2 chronic kidney disease (CKD). She later reported that her doctor assessed her as having stage 3A CKD. The updates are accounts of Frankel’s public statements, not access to her medical records; her specific test results and the reason for the diagnosis have not been disclosed in the cited reports.
What Frankel has said about her diagnosis
Frankel said repeated blood tests showed that her kidney function was low. In a social media video, describing what a kidney specialist told her, she said: “He said to me, ‘You have stage 2 chronic kidney disease.’” E! News reported the announcement on January 23, 2026.
She later described a different assessment. On February 19, Frankel said her doctor told her, “He said that I actually have stage 3A chronic kidney disease.” E! News reported the update the next day. A March 31 Daily Beast report on an interview with Frankel also said additional testing indicated stage 3A after the initial stage 2 assessment. This is the latest relevant public update in the cited reports.
The reports do not include her eGFR, urine albumin results, other clinical records, or a statement from her treating clinician. They therefore cannot independently confirm how the diagnosis was determined or explain the change in reported stage. E! News’ January 23 report, its February 20 update, and The Daily Beast’s March 31 report describe her statements.
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What stage 2 CKD means
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) defines stage G2 as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 60–89 and ongoing evidence of kidney damage for at least three months. Evidence may include albumin in urine or other signs of damage. An eGFR in that range by itself does not establish CKD. Those are general diagnostic criteria—not Frankel’s disclosed test results. NKF’s stage 2 guidance was updated July 17, 2026.
The stage 2 label in the headline reflects Frankel’s initial public account. It should not be mistaken for her latest publicly reported assessment, which she described as stage 3A.
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How clinicians evaluate and monitor CKD
CKD is assessed using more than one result in isolation. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) describes blood testing to estimate GFR and urine testing for albumin as core tests. If albumin is detected, a provider may repeat a urine test; results over time help clinicians monitor kidney health. NIDDK’s testing and diagnosis guidance was last reviewed in October 2016.
This general testing information is not a way to diagnose yourself. A clinician interprets blood and urine results in context, including whether signs of kidney damage persist. Frankel’s public comments about getting tested are personal statements, not an individualized care plan. She urged followers: “It’s important to go and get your blood all of your blood work done, all of it, be thorough and then do the follow-ups for anything that seems like an outlier.”
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What is—and is not—known about the cause
The cited coverage does not establish what caused Frankel’s CKD. Reports mention possibilities she raised, including a past allergic reaction and an autoimmune condition, but do not confirm either as the cause. Her reported symptoms and comments about hydration or blood pressure should not be treated as proof of a cause, or generalized as symptoms experienced by everyone with CKD. The Daily Beast’s account reports her personal description; it does not provide her medical records or a clinician’s explanation.
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