Have you been told you have chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 2 or 3?
My clients tell me how frightening those words are to hear and how powerless they feel. It needn’t be that way.
Perhaps you’ve been prescribed various medications to help slow the progress and your kidney function is being monitored regularly. That’s great news.
All too often, though, the potential benefits of diet and lifestyle change are overlooked or overworked GPs just don’t have the time or resources to support such changes.
This is a great pity when the two primary causes of CKD are type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
Yes, medications are getting ever more effective, but they can’t do their job properly if what we eat and what we do are fighting against them.
No doubt you’re busy too!
Sticking your head in the sand whilst you focus on paying the bills and meeting your deadlines is an understandable reaction.
So let me explain where you might best focus your attention.
Do any of these apply to you?
Here is my ‘Be Kind To Your Kidneys’ checklist:
- If you have type 2 diabetes:
- Are your blood glucose levels as tight as they can be? Do you feel confident in making dietary changes?
- Do you understand what type 2 diabetes is, what the HbA1c means and what your medications do?
- Has anyone explained why exercise is a magic ingredient?
- If you have high blood pressure:
- Is it still on the high side in spite of medications?
- Do you suspect that your diet and lifestyle could be improved? Are salty snacks and takeaways featuring regularly?
- Do you know which foods might help?
- How are your cholesterol levels?
- Are you relying on your medications to do the job?
- Are there things you could do to give them a hand?
All of the big 3 above – raised blood glucose levels, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels – will, over time, damage our blood vessels. This includes those which keep the kidneys healthy. Good blood flow allows them to continue to do their vital job of filtering out the fluid and waste products that our body doesn’t need. And, this is only one of the multiple jobs they do for us.
And that’s not all…..
- Are you keeping well-hydrated?
- Your kidneys need to be well-supplied with blood to function properly. If you’re running dry, so will they be. So do be extra vigilant to rehydrate if you have flu or a diarrhoea and vomiting bug. And remember to take plenty of water with you if you’re planning particularly exertive exercise or it’s getting hot out there.
- Of course, if your doctor has advised you to limit your fluid intake, then do take their advice.
- Regular exercise? When did you last get up from your desk or car seat?
- Is there a time in the day when you could fit in a walk or a 15 minute spin on that exercise bike that’s gathering dust?
- When we move, the blood simply flows more freely to all our organs.
- Is your diet heavy on the meat, it might be time to consider adding in some plant-based proteins such as beans and pulses.
A few adjustments here can lead to major improvements in the big 3 above and put less pressure on the kidneys in general.
A very small number of you may have been advised by a kidney specialist or dietitian to restrict certain foods, in which case, do heed their advice.
NO IDEA WHERE TO START?
A registered dietitian can help you to:
- Appreciate what an amazing job (or should I say jobs) that our kidneys do – to help you love them more!
- Understand what your medications are doing to manage your blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol levels.
- Unpick why you’re struggling to make changes and work out what motivates you.
- Come up with a realistic plan to take the best care of these quite incredible organs, taking into account your preferences and your obstacles.
I’ll be wating for your call. I offer a free 15 minute chat, so you can get to know me and see if I might be the person to help ease your head out of that hole.
07970 183270
Or email me at annabeljalder@gmail.com