Diabetes is often linked to other health concerns because of the added strain it places on the body. According to the American Diabetes Association, impaired kidney function is commonly linked to the elevated blood glucose levels, which are characteristic of diabetic conditions. Proteinuria is a condition marked by protein in the urine and is often a sign that kidney function is impaired. Make alterations to your diet and you can gain greater control of your blood glucose, preserve kidney function and reduce conditions of proteinuria.
Diabetes and Kidney Function
Around 20 to 40 percent of diabetics will develop some level of impaired kidney function in their lifetime, according to Kathleen Mahan and Sylvia Escott-Stump, authors of "Krause's Food and Nutrition Therapy." If you are diabetic and have signs of impaired kidney function as evident by proteinuria, you may need to change your diet to better control blood glucose levels. This includes following a whole foods diet and altering the amount and type of protein you consume.
Blood Glucose and Proteinuria
Normal fasting blood glucose values should range from 70 to 95 mg/dL, while two-hour post-meal blood glucose values shouldn't be higher than 120 to 140 mg/dL as cited by a 2002 study published in "Clinical Diabetes." Maintaining blood glucose values as close as possible to these parameters will help reduce strain on the kidneys, help preserve kidney function and reduce conditions of proteinuria.
Type of Protein to Consume
Follow the thirds rule for choosing proteins; one-third of your daily protein should come from soy protein, one-third should come from other vegetable protein sources and one-third or less can come from animal protein sources. Good sources of soy protein include edamame, soy milk, tofu, tempeh and soy nuts, as well as a variety of meat and dairy alternative products made from soy and soy protein. Choose other vegetable proteins from sources such as legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds.
In a study published in the September 2009 "Journal of Renal Nutrition," researchers illustrated that a reduced-protein diet primarily of soy protein and other vegetable protein preserved kidney function and reduced conditions of proteinuria. If your kidney function is impaired, consuming too much animal protein can place added stress on your kidneys, worsening conditions of proteinuria.
Amount of Protein to Consume
Consume no more than 0.8 g of protein per 1 kg of body weight daily, advised the "Journal of Renal Nutrition" study. For example, if you weigh 82 kg, or 180 lbs., consume around 65 g of protein daily. If you have impaired kidney function, consuming too much dietary protein can worsen conditions of proteinuria.
Diet and Blood Glucose
Avoid foods that spike your blood glucose, like sweets or other refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta or pre-packaged snack foods. Choose foods that will not spike blood glucose, like fresh vegetables, fruit and whole-grain products such as bread, rice or cereal. According to an article in the October 2008 issue of "Diabetes Forecast," you should stick to small portions, including three meals and several smaller snacks throughout the day. Spread your appropriate daily caloric intake evenly among meals and snacks. This will help you control your blood glucose, preserve kidney function and reduce conditions of proteinuria.
References
- "Diabetes Forecast"; The Art of Grazing; Tracy Neithercott, et al.; October 2008
- American Diabetes Association: Kidney Disease
- "Krause's Food and Nutrition Therapy"; Kathleen Mahan and Sylvia Escott-Stump; 2008
- "Journal of Renal Nutrition"; Soy-Protein Consumption and Kidney-Related Biomarkers Among Type II Diabetics; L. Azadbakht, et al.; September 2009
- "Clinical Diabetes"; Is Postprandial Glucose Control Important? Is It Practical In Primary Care Settings?; Christopher Granger Paker, et al.; April 2002
