Regardless of whether the new kidney comes from a friend, family member or cadaver, kidney transplants greatly enhance the recipient's quality of life. In addition to being freed from dialysis, patients are also freed from onerous dietary restrictions that may have dogged them for years. These benefits aside, transplant recipients still must be careful because they have special nutritional needs that differ from their pre-transplant diet.
Protein
Columbia University Department of Surgery urges patients to increase their protein consumption after a transplant to help the healing process. This instruction may be very startling, particularly for patients who have managed to bypass dialysis, because it is the opposite of most pre-transplant regimens. Not getting nauseated after eating protein is one of the benefits of having a new kidney so the patient can indulge in meat, chicken, fish, tofu, eggs and other high protein foods.
Phosphorus
Prior to transplant, most kidney patients are advised to limit phosphorus intake to prevent bone loss. This instruction changes after transplant as patients are advised to eat high phosphorus foods such as milk and dairy products, legumes, bran and wheat germ. The Cleveland Clinic explains that this added phosphorus is necessary to rebuild bone lost during renal failure. Many transplant patients also take phosphorus supplements to hasten this process.
Sugars and Carbohydrates
Most transplant patients are on prednisone, at least in the first months post-transplant. The Columbia University Department of Surgery website explains that prednisone can cause hyperglycemia or steroid-induced diabetes, especially if taken over a long period of time. The best way to prevent this is to avoid sugary snacks and desserts, and to steer clear from sugary sodas and fruit juices to which sugar has been added.
Sodium
The Cleveland Clinic website explains that hypertension often continues to be a problem post-transplant. While many patients are able to discontinue or reduce the number of blood pressure medications they take, most patients still have to watch their sodium intake and avoid canned soups, salty snacks and most pre-prepared frozen meals that have high sodium content.
Drug Reactions
Some transplant patients take the immunosuppressant cyclosporine. These patients should steer clear of grapefruit and grapefruit juice as they wreak havoc with serum levels of cyclosporine.
Potassium levels can also be affected by drugs taken after transplant. The Columbia University web site notes that that drug lasix can cause potassium levels to decrease. Other drugs such Prograf and Cyclosporine occasionally cause them to increase. Potassium levels are carefully monitored after transplant and patients are instructed to indulge or abstain from high potassium foods such as bananas, legumes, apricots, prune juice, pumpkin and tomatoes.
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