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Your kidneys and vitamin D: How does it work?

Vitamin D is a hot topic.  Articles appear almost weekly in newspapers, magazines, journals and online.  I’ve heard several television reports just over the past week.  In a posting back in April, I covered some basics on vitamin D and why it’s important for chronic kidney disease and dialysis patients. Today I’m focusing on the […]

Kidney Diet on a Budget: PLAN to Stretch Food Dollars

Most of us are trying to find ways to save money and stretch our food dollars these days. With chronic kidney disease or dialysis there’s the added challenge of staying within your diet goals for protein, sodium, potassium and phosphorus. I’ve often heard patients complain about how expensive it it to follow their special renal […]

Phosphorus Binder for Dialysis Patients Now Available in Generic Form

Most people in stage 5 kidney disease on dialysis require phosphorus binder medications when they eat to help maintain normal blood phosphorus levels. A low phosphorus diet is also required. Poor phosphorus control results in bone disease, heart problems and calcification of soft tissues and arteries. Some phosphorus binders work like a sponge to soak […]

Change Your Diet by Using a Food Diary

Research on dieting for weight loss and what works for long term weight maintenance is extensive. One tool shown to help weight loss dieters maintain their weight is a food diary. This is a useful tool for dialysis patients or anyone on a kidney diet making new and long lasting changes in eating habits. A […]

Reading Food Labels to Identify Hidden Phosphorus

Understanding food labels is even more important for those following a kidney diet. Since phosphorus is often missing from the Nutrition Facts, it’s important to know how to find hidden sources on the ingredient list. Look for obvious sources of phosphorus in the ingredients: cheese, milk, yogurt, nuts, seeds, dried beans and peas, bran, whole […]

Could a kidney patient double up on a multivitamin instead of taking renal vitamins?

What’s in the special renal vitamins for dialysis patients?

Renal vitamins contain B vitamins and a limited dose of vitamin C to help replace losses related to dialysis in those with end stage renal disease. The B vitamins, also called the B-complex, are a combination of eight water soluble vitamins: B vitamins work to convert food into energy, metabolize amino acids, fatty acids and glucose, produce […]

Why a kidney-friendly diet helps those with chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease happens slowly over time. If kidney disease is detected early enough, steps can be taken to help slow the progression to either delay or prevent total kidney failure and the need for dialysis or a transplant. Eating a kidney-friendly diet is one way to help slow the progression of kidney failure. In […]

How the dialysis diet affects those with kidney failure (or end stage renal disease)

In addition to cleaning the blood, the kidneys perform other important functions. Loss of kidney function has a direct impact on some important balances in the body. While medicines and dialysis help restore some of the balances, in end stage renal disease, what you eat or don’t eat plays a major role in restoring balance […]

Common Oral Diabetes Medications

People diagnosed with diabetes are likely to take several oral (by mouth) drugs prescribed by their doctors for diabetes management. Find out which medicines and supplements are often prescribed to non-CKD diabetes patients and which to avoid for patients who do have CKD.