Bethenny Frankel is being extremely honest about her health journey. The former "Real Housewives of New York City" star revealed that she has been diagnosed with stage two chronic kidney disease and expressed her hope that sharing her candid experience would encourage others to prioritize their own health.
"Months ago, I made the decision to take a proactive approach to my health, including blood tests and bone density checks – all the things I had heard people talking about," Bethenny said in a January 22 TikTok video. "I started taking a series of blood tests, and each time, my kidney function results were concerning."
The 55-year-old explained that due to this concerning pattern, she reluctantly made an appointment with a kidney specialist. During the visit, she received her diagnosis, although her doctor was unsure of the cause, speculating it could be anything from a severe allergy attack she had several years ago to an autoimmune disease or even her lack of water intake.
"I don't drink a lot of water," Bethenny said. "You know I always have a hydration packet and a bottle, but I'm not usually drinking it." However, her doctor emphasized the importance of water as her "medicine" and encouraged her to drink at least a liter and a half a day. He also advised her to avoid ibuprofen, turmeric, and ice cream, and while they would try to reverse the damage to her kidney, it was potentially an issue she would "have to deal with forever."
Despite this, Bethenny expressed gratitude for choosing to take care of her health and encouraged her followers to do the same. "I just wanted to tell you because I think it's important to go get all your blood work done," she said. "Be thorough and follow up on anything that seems like an outlier."
This is the second medical emergency Bethenny has faced in 2026, as she previously shared that she contracted a rash on her face during a New Year's getaway with her 15-year-old daughter, Bryn Hoppy, whom she shares with ex-husband Jason Hoppy. "POV: You left St. Barths 3 days early and brought home a bacterial infection," Bethenny wrote on TikTok on January 5, joking in the caption, "Allergic to St. Barths."
