Bethenny Frankel Says She Has Stage 2 Chronic Kidney Disease: ‘Go Get All Your Bloodwork Done’

Bethenny Frankel says she’s been diagnosed with stage 2 chronic kidney disease and is sharing the news to encourage others to take their health seriously.

“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 mindful,” the 55-year-old Real Housewives of New York alum said in a Jan. 22 TikTok.

Frankel explained that she’s been staying on top of routine health checks and labs. “I’d been proactive about blood tests, bone density, all the things,” she said, but repeated testing kept showing her kidney function “coming up low.” She was eventually referred to a kidney specialist—though she admitted she nearly skipped the appointment. “I didn’t want to go … I didn’t feel like going today.”

That visit turned out to be pivotal.

“He said to me, ‘You have stage 2 chronic kidney disease,’ ” Frankel recalled, adding that her doctor suggested it could be autoimmune—or possibly linked to a past medical emergency. She referenced “this traumatic experience I had years ago when I almost died from an allergy attack,” explaining it “could have done damage to the kidney.”

In stage 2 kidney disease, there’s a “mild loss of kidney function,” according to the Mayo Clinic. Lowering blood pressure—along with regular monitoring—can help keep the condition from progressing.

Frankel also suggested the disease may have contributed to recurrent infections. “I do get UTIs, not as much anymore,” she said. According to her, the first step in treatment is staying hydrated—something she admits is not her strong suit.

“I don’t drink a lot of water … I’m holding a bottle, but I’m not usually drinking it,” she said. When she told her doctor she drinks kombucha, she recalled his response: “Water is your medicine.” Frankel added that her doctor encouraged a high daily intake and said she could use hydration packets to help.

She also said she was instructed to avoid certain medications and supplements, including common pain relievers like ibuprofen and naproxen (Aleve/Advil). She added that she was told to cut out turmeric and “a few other things” she couldn’t remember at the time—then laughed that ice cream was also on the list while she happened to be eating it on camera. “I remembered after,” she said.

The diagnosis comes after other recent health struggles. Frankel previously said she was diagnosed with long COVID and the autoimmune disorder POTS in 2023. She also shared that she contracted a bacterial infection earlier this month while vacationing in St. Barth’s.

Frankel said she decided to speak publicly because the issue may be long-term—and because she wants others to catch problems early.

“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,” she said.

“Be thorough,” she added, urging people to follow up on anything abnormal and to repeat testing on a consistent schedule, since results can change over time.

“In this case, it was a pattern,” she said, noting she’s still trying to understand what the diagnosis means. She also joked that she hopes to get more clarity from “part-time doctors” on TikTok.

“I don’t know exactly what it means,” she said. “Many of you will, which is also why I’m sharing with you.”