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Kidney Disease Nutrition Consultation & Services
BC Dietitians can Help You Understand and Manage Your Kidney Disease
In Canada, the Canadian Health Measures Survey from 2007-2009 showed a prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) of about 3 million Canadian adults. CKD is associated with several interrelated and long-term complications, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and anemia to name a few.
So your doctor told you to go on a renal diet… now what? If you’ve been recently diagnosed with compromised kidney functions, this is the right place for you. Our Dietitians are trained to help you slow down the progression of your kidney disease and keep you feeling your best. It can be overwhelming to adopt a new way of eating, especially when you’re adjusting to a new health concern, such as kidney disease. With the help of our Registered Dietitians (RDs), you can adopt a diet that makes sense for you and your lifestyle.
A renal diet is often prescribed when your kidneys are having trouble processing some of the nutrients that you’re ingesting as a regular part of your diet. So, when you speak to your RD, they’ll evaluate your needs based on your most recent bloodwork and create a plan with you that will keep you in optimal health.
It’s important to keep in mind that your diet might change over time as your condition changes, so always make sure to keep your dietitian in the loop with any changes that are happening. One more important note: there is no generalized renal diet. Every renal diet is customized to you and your needs. Some people with kidney disease may have to limit sodium, fluids, protein, phosphorus or potassium. Your RD will give you clarification about whether or not you need to restrict those items and what to do so you can be as healthy as possible on your prescribed diet.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dietitians who specialize in kidney diseases are called renal dietitians. Renal dietitians are the specialist on the impact of food on chronic kidney disease (CKD). Renal dietitians typically have clinical experience working in hospitals, dialysis centers, or clinics that treat patients with kidney disease. These RDs will also partake in continuing education to stay current with the latest research, treatment guidelines, and best practices in renal nutrition.
A renal dietitian can help you with the following :
- prevent chronic kidney disease progression
- avoid or treating hyper- and hypokalemia (too much or too little potassium in your blood)
- avoid or treat hyper- and hypophosphatemia (too much or too little phosphorus in your blood)
- determine appropriate fluid intake (avoid both dehydration and fluid overload)
- achieve and maintain a healthy weight
- prevent nutrition deficiencies
- avoid unnecessary restrictions
In CKD without dialysis, a main focus of medical treatment is preventing or slowing the progression of the disease. The most important factors for many people in managing chronic kidney disease is controlling blood pressure and blood sugar levels since they are leading causes of kidney disease.
The most important factor for many people in managing kidney stones is drinking more fluids, aim for 2-3L fluids per day. The most common cause of kidney stones is not drinking enough fluids, especially water.
We make it easy for your to find a specialized renal dietitian in BC. Check out the dietitians listed on this page, click on their profiles to read more about their qualifications, experience, and services. Connect directly with your kidney dietitian and get started !
