Dialysis Program
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Diet and Hemodialysis
Your nutrition is an important part of your dialysis treatment. People with kidney disease have unique dietary needs. The dietician will educate and assist you in making healthy food choices.
What do I need to do?
- Increase protein
- Limit potassium
- Limit sodium/salt
- Limit phosphorus
- Decrease fluid intake
- Maintain diabetes control
Why do I need protein?
- Protein is used to build body tissues (bones, muscles, skin, hair).
- Protein helps fight infections.
- Protein helps with fluid balance.
- Some protein is lost in dialysis treatments.
- To stay healthy, you need to eat the right amount of protein.
- Good protein sources are: Beef, chicken, pork, fish, wild game and eggs.
Why limit potassium?
- Potassium helps muscles and nerves work right, especially the heart.
- If your potassium is too high or low, your muscles become weak, your heart may slow down and even stop beating.
- When kidneys fail, your dialysis and diet work together to balance your potassium.
- Some high potassium foods are: salt substitute, oranges and orange juice, prunes and prune juice, tomato products, bananas, potatoes, yams, winter squash, milk and dried beans.
Why limit my salt?
- Too much salt can cause thirst, high blood pressure, fluid retention, difficulty breathing and heart failure. Limiting or avoiding salty food is recommended.
- Try the use of herbs and spices for added flavor.
- Some salty foods include: TV dinners, chips, luncheon meat and canned soups.
Why limit high phosphorus?
- When kidneys fail, phosphorus builds up in your body.
- If your phosphorus level gets too high, it causes calcium to come out of your bones. This makes your bones weak, brittle and painful.
- Calcium and phosphorus can settle in your soft tissues, like your blood vessels and heart, causing damage.
- Most foods you eat contain phosphorus, some more than others.
- Keep your phosphorus down by limiting foods high in phosphorus and taking a phosphate binder (Phoslo, calcium or Renagel) when you eat.
- Some foods high in phosphorus include: Milk, ice cream, cheese, sodas with phosphoric acid in the ingredients and nuts.
Why limit my fluids?
- When your kidneys fail, fluid stays in your body, which may cause fluid retention, breathing trouble, high blood pressure and heart failure.
- It is normal for you to gain some weight between dialysis treatments.
- If you are gaining excess weight, you are drinking too much fluid.
- Some examples of fluids include: juice, water, ice, jello, soda, ice cream, tea and coffee.
What if I have diabetes?
- Eat the same amount of food at about the same time every day.
- Check your blood sugar often to keep it in the right range.
- Follow your doctor's/diabetes educator's instructions.