The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recently reported that over 90% of non-dialysis CKD patients don’t consult with a dietician even though doing so could radically improve their kidney health. Due to the obesity epidemic and longer lifespans, it is estimated CKD rates will steadily increase with time. Medicare, on average, spends $33 billion annually on dialysis patients’ care and those CKD patients not on dialysis face even higher costs still.
Medical nutrition therapy has been proven to slow the progression of CKD and help patients avoid kidney failure. Additionally, medical nutrition therapy often improves blood pressure and blood sugar levels which are also of import to CKD patients, who are twice as likely to be effected by hypertension and diabetes as the rest of the population.
It’s important to find the right diet professionals to tailor a customized meal plan designed with your kidney health in mind. There’s no substitute for a dietician or nutritionist who can ensure you’re getting all the nutrients you need and avoiding any foods that may make your condition worse. The unfortunate reality is that the extent of dietary counseling received by many CKD patients is a quick run-through by a doctor or nurse which fails to take a lot of detailed factors into account, factors which can only be thoroughly assessed by a qualified dietary professional.
People with chronic kidney disease ought to be informed about the tremendous benefits of changing their diets to a healthier alternative and how doing so could help support more normal kidney function and keep them thriving for years to come.
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