If you have both diabetes and renal disease, you will need to adjust your diet to manage both conditions. You will have to eat appropriately to keep your blood sugar levels within normal ranges so that you can avoid complications. Because your kidneys may not clear wastes as effectively as before, you may have to eat foods that allow you to protect your kidneys, notes DaVita.com. A diet that manages both diabetes and renal disease can be complex you can do it with guidance and help from your dietitian and other health care professionals.
Foods Low In Salt
Sodium is an important mineral in the body, but for people with diabetes and renal disease, it is important to monitor salt intake. Increased sodium intake can lead to extra fluid in the body and to high blood pressure. High blood pressure can further damage your kidneys if you have renal disease. Limit your intake of high-sodium foods, like canned foods or frozen meals, salty snacks or processed meats, advises Drugs.com. Choosing fresh or frozen vegetables and meats can help you limit your salt intake. Use herbs and spices to flavor your cooking instead of salt.
Foods Low in Phosphorus
The kidneys maintain the correct levels of phosphorus in the body; in renal disease, the kidneys are unable to remove this mineral as needed. The extra phosphorus can cause bone weakening, notes the Canadian Diabetes Association. To protect your bones, you should eat foods with lower phosphorus levels. Examples of foods with high phosphorus levels include chocolate, cola drinks, meats, whole-grain products and dairy products. Your dietitian can help you with lower phosphorus substitutes for these foods. Your dietitian will also inform you about serving sizes of these foods to help you maintain blood sugar control.
Foods Low in Potassium
Some patients with advanced kidney disease may develop problems regulating the levels of potassium in the body; the kidneys are also responsible for ridding the body of excess potassium. Potassium is present in many fruits and vegetables. Low-potassium foods included apples, strawberries, grits, noodles and pasta. If you have diabetes, you must be aware of the serving size of these foods because each contains carbohydrates and can contribute to elevated blood glucose levels. Your dietitian will supply lists of appropriate serving sizes while you are working on your meal plan.
Carbohydrate Management
Carbohydrates are converted to sugar when broken down in the body. To effectively manage your blood sugar levels, you have to monitor your carbohydrate intake and understand which foods contain them. Carbohydrates are found in starchy foods like breads, dairy products, fruits and vegetables. While managing the number of carbohydrates you eat per day, you need to still follow the other dietary rules about foods with low sodium, phosphorus and potassium. A dietitian can play an important part in helping you learn about carbohydrate amounts for your diabetes and renal diet.
Protein Management
Some patients with renal disease are placed on a low-protein diet. The kidneys remove the waste products left over from the breakdown of proteins; in chronic kidney disease, you may not be able to eliminate these waste products. If your doctor puts you on a low-protein diets, you'll need to restrict meats, chicken, fish, dairy products and eggs. Your health care providers will tell you how much protein you can eat each day and will also educate you about the sodium, phosphorus and potassium levels in these protein sources.
References
- Drugs.com: Renal Failure Diet
- American Diabetes Association: Kidney Disease (Nephropathy)
- DaVita.com: Diet Tips for Diabetics with Kidney Disease
- Canadian Diabetes Association: Diet for Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease Tips for Health Professionals
- MayoClinic.com: Low-Phosphorus Diet: Best for Kidney Disease?
