FEBRUARY 7, 2020
Ask a Dietitian
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KIDNEY HEALTH: WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW by Christopher R. Nesbitt, MBA, RD, LD, Renal Dietitian
The failure to acknowledge, address, and manage diabetes and high blood pressure may ultimately lead to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), requiring dialysis. Preventing damage to your kidneys is a topic very little discussed. However, once the damage is done the reactive treatment methods of dialysis and kidney transplants are frequently discussed. As a renal dietitian I hear “How did I get here?” from patients almost daily. This question is directly related to why the patient needs dialysis. Though I am not a Nephrologist or medical doctor, it is my responsibility to explain the why to the patient. I approach this by referring to the doctor’s diagnosis. The two most common diagnoses that lead to endstage renal disease requiring dialysis are diabetes and high blood pressure. As a renal dietitian, I explain how diet, exercise, disease management, and medications each play a role in ESRD. This article discusses preventive measures and the numerous actions you can take to preserve your kidney health. You can start your kidney health check-up by taking inventory of the following things first: diet, exercise, primary care physician visits, and medications.
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DIET When it comes to protein in the diet more is not always better. Reason being, the
kidneys have to work harder to filter the breakdown of excess protein. If you’re wondering how much protein your body needs, a good rule of thumb is 0.36 grams per pound for a normal body weight. If you are athletic, underweight or overweight, it is best to see a licensed Dietitian to best determine your estimated protein needs. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fiber, and lean meat is preferable. Maintaining healthy weight is also key to kidney health. The BMI measure for weight classification is not perfect, but it stills serves as a tool to monitor your weight health. You should look to have your BMI between 18.5-24.9 for a normal weight.
received from exercising has many benefits, including improved blood pressure, blood sugar, and stress level. Remember that the kidneys are comprised of millions of small blood vessels that filter waste from our blood. In order to keep these vessels working properly we must manage weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and stress and exercise assists with achieving all of these. PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN VISITS Outside of your spiritual life and family, your primary care doctor should be very close at the top of your relationship list. Reason being, without a health care provider in place it is nearly impossible to take preventative measures for kidney health. The labs and vitals you should be checking at your annual physical include the following: hemoglobin A1C, blood pressure, creatinine, glomerular filtration rate, and blood urea nitrogen. Knowing these labs will allow you to better track your kidney health. Your primary care physician should also know if you have any family history of kidney disease or other related issues.
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EXERCISE Boring to some and fun for others, exercise is a key ingredient to your best kidney health. The vascular health Please see KIDNEY HEALTH page 16
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