subject: Getting the Right Kidney Patient Diet for Specific Kidney Disease Stage [print this page] Getting the Right Kidney Patient Diet for Specific Kidney Disease Stage
Each stage of kidney disease has its own dietary needs. As kidney disease advances to another stage, the body becomes more unstable and its ability to absorb protein properly is also reduced. The final stage, which is stage five, requires dialysis as well as a change in kidney patient diet. Patients suffering from kidney disease should seek the help of a dietician to maintain the best possible health at this stage. The tendency of the patient
during this period is to drink less. The intake of other food elements such as potassium, sodium and phosphorous must also be limited.
The new kidney patient diet must counteract the imbalance of fluids, minerals and electrolytes as caused by end stage renal disease. It is important to note that while the kidneys are functioning properly, it can process gallons of blood everyday and remove waste from it as well. The waste products are sent to the bladder and pushed out of the system as urine; although urine may also contain excess fluid from the body.
The kidneys, when not functioning properly, can cause fluid backup inside the body and can eventually cause complications in the heart, lungs and even in the feet and ankles. Patients on dialysis may not urinate at all; and if one does, the urine is on a very concentrated form, which increases the possibility of having urinary tract infection. The excess fluid can build up around some areas of the body including the heart, where such fluids can cause difficulty in breathing; or pneumonia, when buildup takes place on the lungs. This is the ultimate reason why dialysis patients are given restrictions when it comes to fluid intake as part of their kidney patient diet.
Before undergoing dialysis treatment, a patient will be checked regarding the levels of substances in the body such as calcium, albumin, sodium, potassium, and urea. The nutritionist will base the kidney patient diet from the result of the test, while fluid intake will be based on the urinary output of the patient.
Generally, the early stages of kidney disease can be slowed down by giving less protein on a kidney patient diet. However, when the disease moves to the stage where dialysis is required, more protein will need to be incorporated into the diet. This high protein requirement is needed for peritoneal dialysis, as this kind of treatment can discard a significant amount of protein during the process.
