If you have kidney disease and diabetes, controlling your diet is part of treating your illnesses. It's common to have both. According to the American Association of Kidney Patients, more than half of the people with chronic kidney disease are diabetics. Diabetes is the leading cause of renal failure. Although each disease has it's own set of nutritional restrictions, with some careful planning, you can create a healthy renal diabetic menu.
Standard Diabetes Diet
If you have diabetes, you're probably watching your carbohydrate intake. Only carbohydrates raise your blood sugar; fat and protein slow the absorption of glucose into your bloodstream. A standard diabetes eating plan includes low-glycemic index carbs that have little impact on your blood sugar; high-fiber whole grains, vegetables, fruits and legumes; lean protein low in saturated fat; and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids such as fish or flax seed. You should be limiting sweets, trans fats found in processed baked goods such as crackers and cookies, and foods high in dietary cholesterol. If you have diabetes, you'll want to stabilize your blood sugar by eating every four hours and spacing your carb intake evenly throughout the day.
Standard Renal Diet
If you have chronic kidney disease, you'll need to limit fluids, protein, sodium, potassium and phosphorous. Your kidneys work to eliminate excess minerals, fluids and toxins from your body, so the goal of a renal diet is to lessen the burden on your kidneys. If you don't consume too much of any single mineral or excess toxins, your kidneys don't have to work as hard to filter and remove them from your body. This can delay the progression of renal failure.
Eating Carbohydrates on a Renal Diabetic Diet
If you're following a diabetic diet, you're already limiting carbohydrates. To follow a renal diabetic diet, you'll need to choose carbohydrates low in sodium, phosphorous and potassium as well. You'll still eat the same amount of carbs -- you'll just eliminate certain vegetables and fruits, such as artichokes, Brussels sprouts, okra, spinach, tomatoes, cantaloupe, bananas, nectarines and oranges. It's still important to choose high-fiber foods, as people with chronic kidney disease often have constipation. Fiber slows the absorption of glucose into your system and helps keep you regular. Choose fresh, rather than processed foods -- which tend to be high in sodium.
Eating Protein on a Diabetic Renal Diet
Protein is more limited on a renal eating plan than the standard diabetic diet. Your kidneys may struggle to process too much protein, resulting in uremia, a buildup of waste from protein breakdown in your blood. If your kidney disease progresses, you may need to further restrict protein intake. Poultry, seafood, eggs and lean cuts of meat are all good protein choices. Avoid processed meats and cold cuts, cheese, nuts and dried legumes. Limiting your protein and carbohydrate intake might cut your calories too much -- adding healthy fats, such as olive oil, can be a way to increase calorie content and help you feel full longer.
Sample Daily Diabetic Renal Menu
A typical 2,400-calorie diabetic renal meal plan will include only 50 g of protein. Breakfast might include 2 servings of bread, such as 2 slices of toast or an English muffin with margarine, a piece of low-potassium/low-phosphorous fruit such as a pear or apple, and 1 cup of coffee or tea with non-dairy creamer. Lunch could be a sandwich made with 2-oz. of chicken and mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato and a side salad. Dinner could be another 2-oz. of meat accompanied by 2 servings of vegetables, and 4 carb servings -- maybe a small baked sweet potato and a dinner roll with margarine, another fruit serving and a small glass of diet soda. Snacks should include vegetables, fruit, non-dairy whipped topping, gelatin and sorbet.
References
- American Association of Kidney Patients: How Can I Follow My Diabetic and Renal Diet Restrictions?
- American Association of Kidney Patients: The Impact of Nutrition on the CKD Patient
- MayoClinic.com; Diabetes Diet - Create Your Healthy Eating Plan; Sept. 17, 2009
- MedlinePlus; Diet -- Chronic Kidney Disease; Oct. 5, 2009
