Fluid & Fluid Control
Kidneys help control the amount of fluid that leaves your body. If your kidney disease progresses, your kidneys may be unable to regulate the removal of fluid from your body and as a result your doctor may ask you to limit your fluid intake. Too much fluid may cause swelling, shortness of breath, or high blood pressure.
What exactly is a fluid? Fluids are any food that is liquid or anything that melts into a liquid. Examples of fluids include the following:
• Coffee
• Tea
• Sodas
• Soups
• Popsicles
• Ice cream, sherbet
• Ice cubes
• Gelatin
• Milk, liquid creamer
• Water
• Wine and beer
If your doctor advises you to decrease the amount of fluids you eat and drink each day these tips may help you.
• Drink only when thirsty. Do not drink out of habit or to be social
• Eat less salt so you will feel less thirsty
• Suck on ice chips. (Measure small units into a cup)
• Brush your teeth three to four times a day; this is to prevent your mouth from drying out
• Suck on a lemon wedge
• If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar
• Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless hard candy
• Take your medications with sips of fluid
• When dining out, ask your beverage to be served in a child-size glass
• Measure how much fluid your favorite cup or glass holds so you will be better able to monitor the amount of fluid you drink
• After measuring out the total amount of fluid you can drink for the day, place the water in a container. During the day drink only from this container so you can keep an eye on the amount of fluid you have consumed.

The Renal Diet- Phosphorus
Before making any changes to your diet, make sure you discuss them with your doctor or dietitian.
Phosphorus is a mineral that works with calcium to keep your bones healthy and strong. Phosphorus is needed by the body for building and maintaining bones and teeth and for normal nerve and muscle function. When kidney function declines, the body has a difficult time keeping phosphorus and calcium in balance. As a result of this imbalance, the body cannot get rid of excess phosphorus (phosphorus levels increase) and the body cannot take in enough calcium (calcium levels decrease). To try and correct this imbalance the body will “steal” calcium from the bones, which makes the bones weak. Problems associated with high phosphorus levels include itchy skin, bone and joint pain, and brittle bones.
Foods that are high in phosphorus include:
• Cola Drinks
• Peanut Butter
• Cheese
• Sardines
• Chicken/beef liver
• Nuts
• Caramels
• Beer
• Ice Cream
Lower phosphorus food substitutes include:
• Broccoli
• Non-dairy milk substitute
• Sherbet
• Non-cola soda
• Zucchini squash
• Hard Candy
A large serving size of a low phosphorus food can become a high phosphorus food.
If your phosphorus level remains high your doctor may prescribe a phosphate binder for you to take. This medication will bind with the phosphorus in the food you eat and prevent phosphorus from being absorbed in the body.
It is important that you take this medication exactly as instructed by your doctor.

The Renal Diet- Potassium
Before making any changes to your diet, make sure you discuss them with your doctor or dietitian.
Potassium helps to keep your nerves and muscles, especially your heart, working properly. Potassium is a mineral and can be found in many foods. The kidneys are responsible for helping to keep the correct amount of potassium in your body. It can be very dangerous if your potassium level is too high. Too much potassium can make your hear beat irregularly or even stop without warning.
Foods that are high in potassium include the following:
Fruits Vegetables Other Food
Bananas Broccoli Chocolate
Oranges Potatoes Coffee (limit to 2 cups per day)
Cantaloupe Tomatoes Salt Substitute
Prunes Mushrooms Bran & bran products
Raisins Greens (swiss chard, Nuts & dried fruit
Collard, dandelion,
Mustard, and beet)
Apricots

Low-potassium foods include the following:
Fruits Vegetables Other Food
Apples Beans (green or wax) Rice
Grapes Cucumber Noodles
Pears Onions Cake
Watermelon Lettuce Cereal
Cranberries Carrots Bread & bread products
Cherries
It is important to remember that almost all foods contain potassium. Serving size will determine whether foods are a low, moderate, or high potassium level.
A large serving size of a low potassium food can become a high potassium food.


The Renal Diet- Protein
Before making any changes to your diet, make sure you discuss them with your doctor or dietitian.
Diet plays an important role in the management of kidney disease. The diet your physician will ask you to follow will be based upon your level of kidney function, your body size, and any other medical conditions you may have. Your diet may be helpful in delaying the need for dialysis.
Protein is needed to maintain muscles, aid in building resistance to infections, and repair and replace body tissue.
As your body breaks down protein foods, waste products called urea are formed. As kidney function declines, urea builds up in the bloodstream.
Eating to much protein may cause urea to build up more quickly. This will make you feel sick.
Eating less protein may be helpful in reducing your blood urea levels.
Reducing protein intake must be monitored by your doctor and dietician.
Examples of foods high in protein are:
• Meat
• Poultry
• Milk Products
• Eggs
Foods low in protein includes the following:
• Fresh beans (pinto, kidney, navy)
• Grains
• Vegetables
You need both high quality and low quality protein in your diet. Your physician will determine how much protein should be in your diet.

The Renal Diet- Sodium
Before making any changes to your diet, make sure you discuss them with your doctor or dietitian.
Sodium is needed by the body for many functions such as controlling muscle contractions, balancing fluids, and controlling blood pressure. Healthy kidneys remove excess sodium in the urine. As kidney function declines, sodium and fluids may accumulate in your body. Fluid retention may cause swelling in your eyes, hands, and/or ankles. To keep your sodium level in balance, your doctor may ask you to limit the sodium in your diet.
Foods high in sodium include the following:
• Table salt
• Bouillon cubes
• Potato chips
• Nuts
• Bacon
• Cold Cuts
• Cheese
• Canned, dehydrated, or instant soup
• Canned vegetables
• Processed dinner mixes (such as Hamburger Helper, Rice-a-Roni)
Low sodium alternatives:
• Season with a variety of spices like garlic and oregano
• Use lemon.

This article is adapted from http://kidneyandliver..com

For more information on how to take care of your kidney and liver,
please visit http://kidneyandliver..com

Thankx adultip, i find this information very useful because i have a renal failure patient i am presently taking care of. The doctors have emphasized much on the need to control her fluid intake as well as the kind of protein in her diet. I have also learnt a few more from here like giving them ice cubes to suck instead of a glass of water since they mosty feel thirsty. My patient likes to drink sprite atleast once a day, i" ll like to know if that could be harmful in any way.

In Naija here:
you can consider Pap, Garri, et al

Na naija we dey so most of these things are not available here but you try sha

Thanks for the tips.

Please what advice can you give someone who's both diabetic and having renal failure?

She's been asked to avoid all types of carbohydrate-rich foods, and can only eat beans, wheat and boiled unripe plantain.

From your post I gather this is not too safe. What can be done about her diet?

Good article there op.

mollytinrox: Thanks for the tips.

Please, what advice can you give someone who's both diabetic and having renal failure?

She's been asked to avoid all types of carbohydrate-rich foods, and can only eat beans, wheat, and boiled unripe plantain.

From your post, I gather this is not too safe. What can be done about her diet?

This can help and strive for more. https://ieatndrink.com/worst-foods-must-lose-weight/

mollytinrox: Thanks for the tips.

Please what advice can you give someone who's both diabetic and having renal failure?

She's been asked to avoid all types of carbohydrate-rich foods, and can only eat beans, wheat and boiled unripe plantain.

From your post I gather this is not too safe. What can be done about her diet?

In managing such patient, timely clinic follow up appointment has to be ensured. One of the late complication of DM is kidney failure which can progress to ESRD.
(S)he must have been counselled on the type of food to eat if (s)he attendin a good hospital and the diet is individualize based on his clinical state and investigations result.
I advice u don't tamper with what the doctor told him cos u read smthin online. Best u can do is to gather all these info and discuss them with ur doctor during ur next appointment.
Cheers!

nice one op,but can a diabetic patient or sm1 wit renal failure really abstain from those tinx....

fckyourman: LOL, You think say these things na easy to buy in naija. Just copy oyinbo list and apply it to nigerians.

I dont see whats overtly expensive or hard to buy in that list here in Naija
Our only problem is we prefer quantity to quality eg why buy banana N100 when u can have roasted bole + ekpa for N70

Tell'em

Insightful Info. Thanks Op.

ifyalways: I dont see whats overtly expensive or [i]hard to buy[/i]bole + ekpa for N70

Offtopic
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In Yoruba language, roasted plantain is called 'boli' & not 'bole'. Moreso, groundnut is called 'epa' & not 'ekpa'.