finding a diet

[rascal01]

I was advised to choose a diet to get on. which one would be best for me? vegan or what. 63, chronic pancreatis, diabetic, esrd not on dialysis yet.

[Hidden]

The easiest answer for you to start one now would be to follow the guidance on the davita.com website. Click on the RECIPES tab and you'll find many kidney-friendly meals to choose from. Almost every recipe has it listed as good for diabetics, those on dialysis or those not yet on dialysis. Depending on your lab values you'll still have to make adjustments to each one to control your intake of sodium, calcium, protein, potassium, and phosphorous. Keep in mind that once you begin dialysis you may have to make further changes to your meal plan. Best of luck.

[CNeb in reply to Hidden]

While Davita may be a good resource, I have a hard time saying that their selection has entirely kidney-friendly meals. There is absolutely no reason they should be pushing pork or red meat as kidney-friendly. It is widely accepted that meat protein is not good for your kidneys, especially in the amounts eaten in a western diet. Take time to watch: nutritionfacts.org/video/wh...

Meat protein in studies has shown to put kidneys in hyper filtration. I’d be remiss to say consider the source of these recipes, Davita’s goal is to make money off of our disease. Take time to read and watch the following: businessinsider.com/john-ol...

It is troubling to me that a CEO dresses as a Three Musketeer, and as he stated he isn’t focused on the patients.

My nephrologist, dietitians at three different transplant programs and my transplant surgeon even stated getting rid of animal protein in your diet is best. I was 2 weeks out from having a fistula put in, and after I had vein mapping I went completely plant-based. I watched as every two weeks my BUN dropped to normal levels even though I was end stage, and my creatinine go from 6+ down to around 4.3. I also saw no more edema, no more daily headaches, pain in muscles and joints gone. I also no longer walked like someone in their 70’s, but was walking like a person who is 40. I stayed off dialysis for 7 months before receiving my donor kidney. There needs to be a major shift in our thought process and understanding of diet. In other countries where meat is not the focal point of a meal, as it is here in our western diet, there are far lower rates of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, cancers, etc. Read The China Study if you have doubts. Also consider before industrial farming, we ate more vegetables, fruits and grains in relation to the amount of meat. We live in an abundance of meat, and we are programmed that you need MORE PROTEIN! I will also answer the typical question I get, “where do you get your protein?”. Well I get it from the same places cows, pigs and chickens get their protein from, plants. I get tested every week, and I have no deficiencies. I will also say my post is in no way directed to I’m sure some very fine and caring folks at dialysis centers, but the industry as a whole does not appear to have our best interest. Nor is this directed to Mr_Kidney, he is a great resource. I just want to shed light on an area that can cause confusion, stress, and at times misinformation that is brought in part due to marketing and our western diet. I hope this helps, and if you have questions, feel free to message me.

[Hidden in reply to CNeb]

Even though I tell folks to use the DaVita website for recipes I also say that "based on your lab values" you have to make adjustments. If your protein is limited then don't eat much. I was originally told to eat 8 oz. of protein per day. A short time later I was told to stop even the occasional red meat and I did. I use and recommend DaVita because it lists recipes that are good for Diabetics, Folks on Dialysis, and Folks Not Yet on Dialysis. You still have to make adjustments based on your restrictions. I have Hypertension so when sodium is used, I eliminate it during prep. I also reduce portion size when something has too much sodium without my adding any extra.

This goes for everything I have on my list of foods to eat/avoid. Has it worked for me? My GFR at its lowest was 32. Since then it has gone to 35, then 51, then 45 and as of Monday 57. My creatinine is now down to 1.3.

Nobody should see a recipe and follow it without making changes that suit you and your health needs.

Of course, that's just my opinion and I could be wrong.

[CNeb in reply to Hidden]

I agree, I asked my dietician if I should go vegan or vegetarian, and she said no. Unfortunately even with the meat protein changes I still got worse. Not only in numbers but how I felt. That’s why I went plant-based and things got better and stayed away from dialysis. I also understand that I don’t have to worry about potassium intake like others with kidney disease, as not having a large intestine means I don’t absorb potassium like others. Therefore I have leeway with my fruits and vegetables.

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to CNeb]

Where do chickens and the other protein sources you mentioned get their "plant based" protein?

My Nephrologist always says eat "chicken, chicken, chicken.

[CNeb in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

All I ate was chicken per the guidance of my nutritionist through the nephrologist, and my numbers got worse and I felt worse. That is why I went plant based. Studies show animal protein puts your kidneys into hyper filtration. I’m not following your first question, but cows, pigs and chicken eat grains and that contains protein. They really contain amino acids which make up the macronutrient we call protein. Everything you eat contains amino acids (micronutrient) that makes up the macronutrient protein. The largest land animal is an elephant, and it gets its “protein” from plants. It all depends on whether or not your getting a complete amino acid profile.

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to CNeb]

Well, I know from 7 years of being a Regional Sales Rep for National pet food company that corn, fed to many farm animals, is not necessary in the diets of humans, cats and dogs. Our digestive systems are not made to digest corn or use its nutrients. I will do more research on plant-based proteins. Thanks for the info. [P.S.:. Although I like and trust my nephrologist, he doesnt make very good food choices for himself. He eats at McDonalds and other fast food places for breakfast every day!]

[Hidden in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

Two sayings come to mind with your comment about your doctor's food choices. One is "Physician heal thyself", and Two, "Do as I say not as I do".

My grandfather, a very wise man, told me two things. Actually, he told me a lot more than two things but two come to mind. The first one is, "To each his own". The second one was directed at me more than anyone else and he would be proud to know I have continued his style by passing it along. He always told me, "You have two ears and one mouth. You should be doing twice as much listening as talking".

I've run into a lot of physicians who smoke, and/or are overweight. The advice they give is intended for us and we have the option of listening or not. The one thing I won't do is go to a bald barber. He has no respect for your hair.

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to CNeb]

In my opinion (and I am by no means an expert), there is a big difference in amounts of proteins a kidney patient should or should not consume depending on whether dialysis is involved. True, I was told to reduce protein intake while in CKD, but now that I dialyze via PD 6x a week, i have to consume more protein because the dialysizing process removes protein during the treatment. If I do not eat protein (and I mostly eat chicken), my labs show a continued decrease in albumin.

I'd be happy to try a plant-based protein diet if it doesn't interfere with my labs.

[Hidden]

More power to you. Wouldn't it be great if there were "a one size fixes all" approach to CKD?

[CNeb in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! At the end of the day you have to take it upon yourself to take care of yourself in all facets of life, work with a doctor that understands your health situation and is willing to learn with you on what can be done to aid and protect your body/kidneys in the best way possible. It would be nice if there was a one size fits all approach. I think we will find that a tailored plant-based diet will be the best. It will just have to be planned out based upon each individuals current health needs. As I mentioned I’m lucky since I had only CKD, and I don’t absorb potassium like others so I could eat more foods that are high potassium.

[Cathy12156dsrjad]

I was advised to try dash diet and me

Make the revisions as needed such as less protein and less salt. If labs show high blood pressure and cholesterol then watch fats. I also asked my dr to send me to a dietician and he did. Best thing ever. She sent me to my fitness pal. Com and that helps so much

[SaraEads]

I can only speak to my personal experience with diet. In 1980, I was found via open kidney biopsy to have 50% loss of kidney function due to FSGS. The prognosis was that i would require dialysis in 5 to, if extremely lucky, 10 years. There was, at that time, at a university where I live, a double blind study evaluating a low protein diet with a more traditional diet. The study was designed so that one would not know into which group participants were enrolled, In consultation with my nephrologist, I decided to experiment with a plant based low protein diet, thereby restricting my protein and, also, my sodium intake. I, also, started a daily exercise routine for 5/7 days.

I began this diet in 1980 and was very faithful. Amazingly, If I had not known via my periodic lab work that my kidneys were failing, I would have been shocked in 2001 when, with my GFR at 8, I began peritoneal dialysis. I felt pretty good for those 20 years for whatever reason. Interestingly, when I inquired about the results of the university double blind study about diet, I was told, the results did not show one diet superior to the other.

[KelliC_NKF]

It's important to talk with a dietitian about your individual diet needs. For more on diet visit: kidney.org/nutrition