Advice for a Great Life on Dialysis
When facing kidney health challenges, it is entirely possible to live a great quality of life on dialysis. This is the advice I wish I knew earlier—practical steps you can incorporate into your daily routine right now. From the perspective of Robert Garo, a naturopath nutritionist who has been living with a kidney transplant for 19 years, here is how you can thrive.
Build the Right Medical Team
To properly manage your life on dialysis, you need the right support. Seek the advice of at least three different nephrologists. Doctors manage treatments differently, and each one knows things the others might not. Meet with them, compare their approaches, and move forward with the specialist you feel most comfortable with.
Stick to Dialysis Diet Guidelines
Take all your medications and strictly adhere to your fluid restrictions. It is understandable that you may not always want to follow the strict diet—it is a common struggle—but sticking to these daily recommendations dramatically improves your life on dialysis. Additionally, make sure you take excellent care of your fistula or whatever access point you are using.
If you are looking for a helpful resource, pick up The Dialysis Patient Handbook of Information by the Kidney Nurse. It is a fantastic guide available on our website. You should also consider working directly with a nutritionist to fine-tune your meals.
Flush Toxins to Improve Your Life on Dialysis
One of the most critical daily habits for your well-being is getting at least 30 grams of fiber per day. Because your kidneys are not functioning properly, toxins inevitably build up in the body. To compensate, the body dumps many of these excess toxins into your colon.
To clear them out, you need to be having regular bowel movements. Adequate fiber grabs those excess toxins and sweeps them right out of your system, preventing a buildup that could negatively impact your life on dialysis. If you are not used to eating fiber, build up to that 30-gram mark gradually. You can hit this goal through a diet rich in kidney-safe foods or by taking a quality supplement.
No matter what stage of kidney health you are experiencing, you can take control of your well-being. Check out our other videos for more information on how to help yourself and optimize your life on dialysis.
