Hi everyone, I have lupus nephritis my kidneys are slowly worsening. I have been told to lose weight but be cautious about what I’m eating. I have no idea where to begin. Does anyone have any diet plans they follow specifically for renal complications? I am being referred to a dietician but waiting for this appointment to come through.
Thanks in advance
I’m sorry I can’t help,Perhaps you could go on the NHS website and do the search.take care
I have class v LN.i dont follow a renal diet but I do watch my salt and potassium intake and I dont drink carbonated drinks or alcohol.ive recently gone lactose free but that is for digestive issues reasons.have you looked on kidney.org ? X
This is from the NHS Oxford University hospitals trust.
It’s specifically for a renal diet from the renal unit.
Very general but useful advice.
There’s a huge amount of information on all sorts of diets for different conditions but this one looks trustworthy:
ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/le...
For lowering potassium:
ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/le...
Regards
Renal diet is low in potassium and salt, and low in protein. Carbohydrate is OK. I have managed to lose a just over stone since February - basically by exercising loads and trying not to eat too many carbohydrates. It is not easy. Not letting your potassium get too high is very important. This site will tell you how much potassium is in things - it's a pain in a bum, but you will eventually find a compromise between what you like and what won't make you unwell. I found the diet advice from the NHS did not cater for me really - but was geared towards a 'controlling' an imaginary everyman's diet that I didn't eat anyway. You will find a way through. nutritiondata.self.com
When I was new to all this I asked for dietary advice at the hospital. They were very good and referred me to a dietitian for a very short time . She told me what was good what wasn’t and the key was to not go overboard and try and loose to quickly. Salt and processed foods I cut out straight away . Takeaways were also a no no . I am vegetarian so I don’t eat meat . Check out food labels as well it will help !
Potassium was the one I was told to keep to a minimum. When my level was slightly raised my gp sent me to renal for a blood test, we waited 2 hours to see a doctor only to be told levels were ok and I could go home.
My kidneys were damaged by an e coli infection but I was given no information about potassium. Function was at "50%" and it had dropped to 13 when I was hospitalised. Its currently at 21%. The percentages were given to help me understand how well my kidneys were working.
On my gps phone call much later down the line sending me to renal for a blood test a staff nurse asked me if I'd been eating bananas...no I hadn't, I dont eat them much, not at all these days. The nurse gave me a leaflet and arranged for a dietician to phone me. She couldnt believe no one had mentioned the need for low potassium intake.
Potassium isn't on food labelling much. When I spoke to the dietician she said they were trying to get it listed on ALL labelling and she sent a more detailed information leaflet that graded potassium levels in food low, medium and high. Things like chocolate, coffee especially capuccino and bananas are graded high. Strictly speaking I'm allowed one coffee a day and potatoes and veg should be boiled before eating them. If you search on the net you'll find lists of food to avoid. The leaflet I have is very useful and I'd recommend the NHS one as well.
And this is one diet sheet for lowering potassium:ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/le...
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