Television personality Bethenny Frankel has revealed that she is facing stage two chronic kidney disease, sharing this significant health update with her fans on TikTok.
The 55-year-old former star of “The Real Housewives of New York City,” who recently dealt with a bacterial infection on her face during a visit to St. Barts, made the announcement through a video posted on Thursday.
“I have a medical announcement,” she began in the video, filmed outdoors, though she reassured viewers that there was no need for alarm.
“A few months ago, I decided to be proactive about my health, which included getting blood tests, checking bone density, and other health screenings I’d heard people recommend,” Frankel explained. “I began taking a series of blood tests.”
Frankel noted that with each test, her kidney function results consistently came back as “low.”
She continued, “Today, I was informed of an appointment with a kidney specialist. Honestly, I wasn’t even inclined to go,” she admitted, sharing her reluctance with her audience.
Bethenny Frankel, 55, announced that she has been diagnosed with stage two chronic kidney disease; seen in May 2025 in Miami Beach
‘So, I have a medical announcement,’ she began while sitting outside, but explained she did not want anyone to ‘worry’
The reality star expressed that she made herself go to the appointment, with her team also encouraging her to go.
Frankel then stated that the doctor told her she has ‘stage two chronic kidney disease.
‘And he said it could be a function of this traumatic experience I had years ago when I almost died from an allergy attack. It could have done damage to the kidney.’
Another cause could be an autoimmune disorder while adding ‘it’s connected to urinary, which I do get UTIs – not as much anymore.’
The media personality admitted that she doesn’t drink a lot of water, with the doctor telling her that ‘water is your medicine.’
Frankel added that she has to stay away from ‘ibuprofen or Aleve or Advil’ but can still have Tylenol.
‘He said you can’t have turmeric and one other thing,’ she said while indulging in a scoop of ice cream which the doctor informed the star she could have.
The mom-of-one told her fans that she also has low blood pressure and problems with POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome).
Frankel said that each time she had a blood test done, her kidney function results would have a ‘low’ result
The media personality admitted that she doesn’t drink a lot of water, with the doctor telling her that ‘water is your medicine’
The mom-of-one told her fans that she also has low blood pressure and problems with POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome); seen in 2025 in Miami Beach
POTS is ‘a condition that causes a number of symptoms when you transition from lying down to standing up, such as a fast heart rate, dizziness and fatigue,’ per Cleveland Clinic.
Frankel said she was open with her doctor about her other health conditions, including ‘severe dehydration.’
‘So, I’m trying to tell him everything so we can sort of try to be ahead of it and maybe get my levels back up. Maybe this is something I will have to deal with forever.’
She then emphasized the importance of getting ‘all your blood work done, all of it, be thorough and then do the follow ups for anything that seems like an outlier.
‘And frankly, get your blood work done maybe six months and then six months later. Because different stuff can come up and sometimes it’s an aberration and sometimes it means something.’
In her case it was ‘a pattern’ but shared she is not sure what it means.
‘Many of you will which is why I am sharing with you because you guys are part time doctors and I love you guys and I don’t know,’ Frankel added at the end of the clip.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs when ‘kidneys slowly get damaged and can’t do important jobs like removing waste and keeping blood pressure normal,’ per the National Kidney Foundation.
Frankel has previously opened up about the ways she tries to stay on top of her health during an interview with Women’s Health last year; seen in 2025
Frankel has previously opened up about the ways she tries to stay on top of her health during an interview with Women’s Health last year.
Some of the steps include walking 10,000 steps daily and getting plenty of sleep. The TV personality has also cut back on her alcohol intake as well.
When it comes to diet, the star told the outlet, ‘I believe in balance, and I’ve taught that to my daughter too.
‘I’m not educated on every single thing. I barely know what seed oils are. I just do my best.’
Just weeks before her latest health update, Frankel revealed that she had to cut her St. Barts getaway short due to contracting a bacterial infection on her face.
She also uploaded a closeup selfie at the time of her face – which was covered with tiny red bumps and a rash.
