Living Well with Kidney Disease
Food for Kidney Health
- Diet is an important part of treatment for people with chronic kidney disease.
- Having the right kidney friendly diet can reduce the workload of the kidneys, help preserve the kidney function you have, control the build-up of waste products, provide the correct nutrients, and can help decrease the symptoms of itching, nausea, and tiredness.
- Every person with chronic kidney disease will have an individual diet plan as your diet depends on your kidney function, your other medical conditions (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol etc.), medications you are taking, and if you need to lose some weight.
- You may need to be referred to a dietitian to help you. Your family doctor or nurse practitioner can help you with this.
- The following websites are helpful:
Medications
- People with chronic kidney disease can take many medications to help manage chronic kidney disease and their other medical conditions.
- Your kidneys remove most medications from your body. As your kidney function decreases, your medications will likely need to change – the amount (dose) may need to decrease; you may need to take the medication less often; or you might need to stop the medication completely or use different ones instead.
- Talk to your doctor/nurse practitioner or pharmacist if you have any questions about your medications, vitamins, herbal supplements or other over the counter medications (for instance - Advil®, Motrin®, Aleve®).
- Keep an up-to-date list of all your medications, including any that are not prescribed (i.e. over the counter). Bring this list to all your medical/dental appointments and to the Emergency Department/Hospital if you need to have emergency or hospital care.
- The following websites are helpful:
- REMEMBER: This is not a substitute for talking to your doctor/nurse practitioner or pharmacist about your specific concerns.
Keeping Active
- Physical activity is not only good for our bodies but also our minds.
- Keeping physically active can help you:
- Control your blood pressure and blood sugar if you have diabetes
- Lose some weight
- Improve your muscle strength and endurance
- Reduce your risk of heart disease
- Improve sleep
- Keep you independent and able to manage on your own longer
- Start slow – walk in your hallways or to the end of your driveway for 2 minutes and gradually increase.
- Always check with your doctor/nurse practitioner before starting any exercise program.
Build a Support Network
- Being told you have chronic kidney disease can feel like you have been “punched in the gut”.
- Your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual health is all affected.
- Never be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Help can come from your spouse, your children, your friends, other family members, your church/spiritual advisor, social worker, doctor, or others who you feel comfortable with.
- Talking to others who have had similar life experiences can help you and your family cope with the diagnosis and what will follow.
- The Kidney Foundation of Canada provides support though the Kidney Connect program which can be accessed at: kidney.ca/Support/Peer-Support
