Advice for New Dialysis Patients
If your kidneys are beginning to fail, you might not recognize it at first. Over time small signs of kidney failure can develop like fatigue, frequent urination, itchy skin, erectile dysfunction in men, upset stomach, trouble breathing, swelling in the hands, feet, and ankles, and blood in the urine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But many people dismiss these symptoms as something else until a lab test shows a kidney problem.
Kidney failure is often linked to high blood pressure and diabetes. But it can also be caused by a sudden injury, illness or infection, and even taking high doses of certain medications. When your kidneys no longer function at a rate sufficient enough to process 1,500 liters of blood per day, your doctor may recommend kidney dialysis to help your body remove waste properly and protect your health. This will improve your longevity and quality of life, but it will require important dietary changes to be as effective as possible. Here's what you can do:
Eat more protein
Large amounts of protein your body needs to support your muscles, aid in cell repair and growth, and prevent infection are lost during dialysis. You'll need to eat more protein from animal sources and plant-based sources to protect your health.
Manage calories
If you're like most people, you didn't spend a lot of time worrying about how many calories you ate in a day before your diagnosis. But when you're on dialysis, it's imperative that you eat enough nutrient-dense calories to maintain a healthy body weight, preserve lean muscle tissue, and provide energy.
Control potassium
While on dialysis, you're going to have to be vigilant about controlling the amount of potassium you consume to protect your heart. You may even need to limit foods like bananas, tomatoes, oranges, and potatoes that you once enjoyed.
Limit phosphorous
One of the minerals that isn't removed much during dialysis is phosphorous. And without your kidneys functioning properly to remove it, you risk absorbing too much phosphorous that can damage your heart, skin, joints, and blood vessels.
Go easy on fluids and cut back on sodium
Perhaps one of the biggest dietary changes you will have to make on kidney dialysis is limiting the amount of water and other fluids you drink. Without proper kidney function, you are at risk for retaining fluid that can cause swelling, raise your blood pressure, and cause other problems. Sucking on ice cubes, chewing gum, and keeping your mouth moist can help quench your thirst. Following a low-sodium diet can also help control thirst and prevent high blood pressure.
That's a tall order for making changes to your diet that you need to remember, along with taking medications and keeping up with doctor's visits and dialysis appointments. When you sit down to start meal planning, take the stress out of remembering all the dietary guidelines you need to follow and choose Dialysis-Friendly Meals at MagicKitchen.com.