Info for people with ESRD

ESRD info and helpful hints

Things you want to know about ESRD, but were afraid to ask

You've been diagnosed with ESRD. Dialysis is looming in your near future, or you're already on it and trying to figure out everything being thrown at you. One of the big things is what and how to eat. A renal diet? What's that? Well it can help you maintain proper levels of certain electrolytes (sodium and potassium) and minerals (calcium and phosphorus), as well as prevent excessive water weight gain between dialysis treatments.
It's important to remember that each person with kidney disease has different nutritional needs, food preferences, and cooking abilities. You need to check with your renal dietitian for assistance in tailoring a diet the meet your needs and abilities.
You're going to need to get a little education about the nutrients in the food you're eating. Nutrients that renal patients need to be watchful of are: calcium, protein, fluid, phosphorus, and sodium.

Sample nutrients and their functions-
Carbohydrates give your body energy.
Calcium helps build and maintain bones and teeth and keeps nerves and muscles working right.
Protein builds muscle.
Fat gives the body energy and helps provide padding to your vital organs.
Fluid regulates your body temperature.
Phosphorous helps build strong bones.
Potassium keeps heartbeat regular and muscles working right.
Sodium regulates fluid balance, blood pressure, nerve impulses, and muscle contractions.

Today we're going to touch a little on Phosphorous. What is it? What does it do?
It's a mineral that works with other nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, to build strong bones. Phosphorous is in almost everything you eat, from dairy, meat, fish, poultry, and eggs to beans and peanuts. With kidney disease you have to watch how much phosphorous you take in from foods and beverages because when you have problems with your kidneys the phosphorous levels in your blood will go up. This increase in blood phosphorous causes a condition called hyperphosphatemia. It's very large word meaning you have high phosphorous levels in your blood. It can be associated with serious illness, mineral deposits in your heart and blood vessels, bone disease and even death.
One way to help limit your intake is to limit your portion size. But since almost all foods contain phosphorous it can be difficult to limit phosphorous foods and still get enough protein and calories for a healthy diet. This is why most patients take medications called phosphorous binders.
These binders work by binding the phosphorous in food before it's absorbed into your digestive system. The binding action is like a magnet sticking to your frig. It grabs the phosphorous before it can be absorbed into the blood and flushes it out of your system. This helps you keep your phosphorous levels within the proper range. Since it is absorbed so quickly from digested food in your intestines many patients must take binders with every meal to help get their levels in line and keep them there. This is an ongoing situation and requires ongoing vigilance on your part and the part of your dietitian and physician.

High phos foods Low phos substitutes
1 cup milk 1 cup non-dairy creamer
1/2 cup ice cream 1/2 cup sherbet
1 oz cheese 1 oz cream shees
1/2 cup pudding 1/2 cup jello (watch fluid intake)
1/2 cup bran cereal 1/2 cup cornflakes or rice cereal
1/2 cup oatmeal 1/2 cup grits or cream of wheat
1/2 cup brown rice 1/2 cup white rice
1 slice whole wheat bread 1 slice white bread
1/2 cup beans (kidney, lima, etc.) 1/2 cup green beans
1/2 cup nuts 1/2 cup unsalted popcorn, pretzels
2 Tbs peanut butter 2 Tbs jam or jelly
1 slice choc cake 1 slice angel food cake
12 oz dark cola 12 oz ginger ale, grape or lemon-lime
soda