Diabetes is a condition that affects your body's ability to use glucose for energy. The disease is one of the chief contributors to kidney disease, whereby the kidneys no longer properly filter minerals from your blood. If this occurs, you may need to alter your diabetes diet to reduce the demands placed on the kidneys. This includes reducing your intake of key minerals the kidneys filter including potassium, sodium and phosphorus.
Protein
Refraining from a high-protein diet is important both for diabetics and those with kidney disease. The kidneys are responsible for filtering wastes produced from protein breakdown. For a kidney, yet diabetic-friendly diet, choose high-quality protein foods like poultry, fish, eggs or egg substitutes. Your physician may recommend a certain intake depending on your kidney function. Instead of adding salt or salt-containing seasonings, flavor your protein sources with fresh herbs, spices and lemon juice.
Carbohydrate Choices
When you are a diabetic, carbohydrate choices are always on your mind because they affect your blood sugar levels. However, some carbohydrate-containing foods that were on your diabetic "okay" list may be high in potassium and phosphorous -- two minerals the kidneys cannot filter well when you have kidney disease. Good carbohydrate fruit choices that take all these factors into account include apples, plums, apple juice, cranberry juice, apricot halves, grapefruit and mandarin oranges. Good grain sources include white bread, bagels, unsalted crackers, rice, flour tortillas and homemade cornbread. Pay careful attention to serving sizes, however, to ensure you do not exceed your daily carbohydrate count.
Vegetable Intake
While vegetables for the most part are a no-carbohydrate choice, they can be high in potassium, which your kidneys may not filter well. Low potassium vegetables include asparagus, beets, eggplant, kale, celery, cucumbers, onions, summer squash and carrots. Try to purchase them fresh, as canned foods can be higher in potassium and sodium, which are both used in preserving vegetables.
Dairy Products
Dairy products can be high in phosphorus, which the kidneys also filter. When you eat too much phosphorus-containing foods, the excess phosphorus in your blood can take calcium away from your bones. One of the first steps your physician may recommend is taking a phosphorus binder, which prevents your body from absorbing excess phosphorus in your blood. The next step is consuming only low-fat dairy products in limited quantities, such as 1/2 cup of skim milk or 4 oz. of low-fat yogurt.
References
- American Association of Kidney Patients; How Can I Follow My Diabetic and Renal Diet Restrictions?; Carra Moroni, LDN, RD; June/July 2006
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Kidney Disease of Diabetes; September 2008
- dLife; What Is a Kidney Diet?; March 2011
- Go Ask Alice!; Low Protein Diabetic (Renal) Diet; May 1997
