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Most of us rarely give our kidneys a second thought. Kidneys work away behind the scenes, never receiving the recognition they deserve for their multi-tasking skills. Among other tasks, they control fluid balance, remove certain body wastes, control blood pressure, balance the body’s minerals, and produce hormones. Even when many of their cells are damaged, kidneys still carry out their work without the body feeling any symptoms. As a result, kidney disease often goes unnoticed. However, if you have diabetes, you need to start caring for your kidneys. Chronic kidney disease affects an estimated two million people across Canada, and diabetes is the leading cause.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs when delicate blood vessels in the kidneys become damaged. Most often, uncontrolled high blood glucose levels causes damage in people with diabetes. The second most common cause is high blood pressure.
CKD is divided into five stages, based on the level of kidney function. Stage 1 is very mild kidney damage, while Stage 5 requires treatment such as dialysis or a transplant to sustain life.
A simple blood test, called the GFR (glomerular filtration rate), can tell how well your kidneys are working. It measures the amount of blood that filters across small blood vessels in the kidneys in a certain time.
Protein leaking into urine is an early warning sign. Normally, there is very little protein in urine as the kidneys filter it back into the blood. Protein in a urine sample indicates some kidney damage.
Take control of your health by asking your family doctor about these tests and the numbers you have scored.
Nutrition recommendations vary depending on the severity of the kidney disease. In very early stages, controlling problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes that threaten the kidneys is key. Keep your blood glucose levels and blood pressure in the target range determined by you and your doctor.
In the middle stage (3), reducing sodium and protein can slow down progression of the disease. In later stages (4 and 5), the kidneys may be unable to remove excess minerals from the body, allowing potassium and phosphorus to build up in the blood. At this time, a diet restricting potassium and phosphorus, in addition to sodium and protein, may be needed. Of course, continuing to control underlying problems is important at any stage.
| Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | Stage 5 | |
| GFR (mL/min) | Greater than 90 At risk of developing CKD |
60 to 89 Mild CKD |
30 to 59 Moderate CKD |
15 to 29 Severe CKD |
15 or less Severe CKD needing treatment |
| General diet recommendations | Control underlying problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease damaging the kidneys | ||||
| Reduce sodium and protein intake |
Reduce protein and sodium intake; some may also need to restrict potassium and phosphorus | ||||
If you have diabetes, the best way to prevent kidney problems and many dietary restrictions is by keeping your diabetes under control. Limit sweets and control the amount of carbohydrate (grains, fruits, some vegetables and milk) at each meal. Regular physical activity helps keep blood glucose levels under control. It also helps control blood pressure, manage stress and improve cholesterol levels.
Keep your kidneys healthy by using the following strategies.
Salt, or sodium, has become a major part of our diets in Canada since processed foods appeared. It is an issue for those with high blood pressure, as salt acts like a sponge and makes the body retain water. This extra fluid can lead to high blood pressure, swelling in the legs, ankles and other parts of the body, and difficulty breathing. For those with kidney disease it is even more of a concern, since the kidneys must process all of the sodium. Some research shows that eating too much sodium may speed up kidney disease.
Think you are limiting sodium by avoiding the salt shaker? Think again. Most of the sodium in our diets (77 per cent) comes from hidden salt in processed food.
When food is processed the sodium content multiplies: |
||
| Cucumber 7 slices = 2 mg |
Cucumber with salad dressing = 234 mg |
Dill pickle, 1 medium = 928 mg |
| Pork, 3 ounces = 59 mg | Bacon, 4 slices = 548 mg | Ham, 3 ounces = 1,114 mg |
| Tomato, 1 small = 14 mg |
Tomato juice, 1 cup = 691 mg |
Tomato sauce, ¾ cup = 979 mg |
| Chicken, half breast = 69 mg |
Chicken noodle soup, half can = 902 mg |
Chicken dinner, fast food = 2,234 mg |
Aim to eat less than 2300 milligrams of sodium per day. As you can see from the processed food table, it does not take long to pass that target! To eat less sodium, follow these guidelines.
Protein, found in foods like meat, poultry, fish, dairy, beans and nuts, is a very important nutrient. Your body needs protein every day to build muscles and repair tissue. Including protein with your meals can help stabilize blood glucose and make you feel full and satisfied.
The problem, as with sodium, is that most people eat far more protein than they need. For those with moderate to severe kidney disease, this can harm the kidneys. Too much protein stresses the kidneys and may speed the progression of the disease.
You can avoid getting too little or too much protein by eating small amounts daily. Ideally, split these foods between your meals. A good guide is to keep your meat portions the size of the palm of your hand. Alternatively, have protein take up one quarter of your plate and starch another quarter. Fill the remaining half with vegetables.
Potassium and phosphorus are minerals that play important roles in the body and are found in many foods we eat. With kidney disease, the levels in your blood can become too high or low because your kidneys have trouble filtering them out. Although this is not usually an issue until the moderate to severe (3 to 5) stages, it varies between individuals. Knowing your levels will help you to do what is best for your body.
Potassium is found in many fruits and vegetables, including bananas, orange juice and potatoes. If the level in the blood is too high or low, it can affect the heart. An extremely high level can even cause the heart to stop beating.
Those who do not need to limit potassium can enjoy plenty of vegetables and fruits every day. A diet high in potassium can help lower blood pressure, which is another risk factor for kidney disease.
Phosphorus is found in dairy products, legumes, bran, nuts and meat. An overly high level of phosphorus in the blood can make calcium leave your bones. Weak bones and hardened arteries can result. Those with stage 3 to 5 kidney disease may want to limit high-phosphorus foods. For instance, limit milk products to one cup (250 mL) per day and cheese to one ounce (30 grams) three times per week.
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