What Diet Should I Follow

What Diet Should I Follow if I have Kidney Disease or am on Dialysis?

If you have chronic kidney disease, diet and nutrition are important concerns. The following are general diet guidelines if you have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease:

  • Limit fluids
  • Eat a low-protein diet
  • Restrict salt
  • Restrict potassium
  • Restrict phosphorous and other electrolytes
  • Get enough calories if you are losing weight

Foods high in potassium, which should be restricted, include bananas, apricots, and salt substitutes. Foods with high phosphorus content, which should be restricted, include milk, cheese, nuts, and cola drinks.

If you have diabetes along with kidney disease, a low-carbohydrate diet may be necessary.

The purpose of this diet is to maintain a balance of electrolytes, minerals, and fluids in patients who are on dialysis. The special renal diet is important because dialysis alone does not effectively remove all toxins and waste products. Waste products can build up between dialysis treatments.

Most dialysis patients urinate very little or not at all. For this reason, fluid restriction between treatments is very important. Otherwise fluid will build up in the body and may lead to excess fluid in the heart, lungs, and ankles.

It is important that patients with chronic kidney disease or on dialysis be monitored by a dietician knowledgeable as to renal diets.

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