The loss of kidney function is accompanied by numerous changes impacting health, nutrition, and quality of life. One significant challenge for people on dialysis is the loss of the ability to excrete fluid via the urine, resulting in fluid retention and associated complications. While fluid balance is itself an important goal for this population [...]
& People on dialysis often struggle with anemia. Their kidneys struggle to produce erythropoietin, which is responsible for stimulating red blood cell production. Furthermore, absolute and functional iron deficiency can develop due to poor diet, inflammation, and blood loss. That is why eating a well-balanced, nutrient-dense diet is important with an emphasis on getting the [...]
I am myself a kidney patient, as well as the Chief Medical Officer of Patient Care America. My original disease was type 1 diabetes, and unfortunately, the complications led to kidney failure. I have gone through two kidney transplants from living donors. In the first case, I was very lucky to recognize the signs, [...]
Do you ever feel like your dialysis patients ALWAYS have complaints about gastrointestinal (GI) issues? In my many years of caring for people on dialysis, I found these concerns to be common and frequently voiced by my patients. Given the number of things that can cause GI issues, it can be easy to focus [...]
As we enter nutrition awareness month, I can’t help but think of the dialysis patient community, whose members often go unrecognized and many times suffer from malnutrition. This patient population may benefit from nutritional advice, oral supplements and finally, non-invasive precision medicine during their hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis sessions, in general. Yet adequate nutrition [...]
Hi, I am Kathleen Meyer, a Registered Dietitian and Sales Manager at Patient Care America. For over 29 years I have worked with patients, many of whom receive dialysis. Unfortunately, in December 2020, I became a patient myself. After suffering a hemorrhagic stroke, I was diagnosed with hypertension. Before my diagnosis, I had [...]
Sleep plays a vital role in overall health, yet for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), achieving restful sleep can be a constant battle. Conditions like Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), sleep apnea, and nocturia further disrupt rest, leading to cycles of fatigue, diminished appetite, and muscle loss. As clinicians [...]
Think about your favorite food. It could be a deliciously ripe raspberry fresh off the vine; maybe it’s a favorite family dish that’s made with love every holiday season, or a recipe you have created on your own, tweaking it carefully throughout the years so the flavors come together perfectly. Now imagine having that [...]
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s important to acknowledge this food-centric holiday can be tricky to navigate for our dialysis patients, especially if they have comorbid conditions like diabetes. Whether they will be hosting or attending a get-together, it can be difficult to stay focused on controlling diet and exercise routines. As providers, [...]
September is Malnutrition Awareness Month, and as Renal Dietitians we understand that the nutritional assessment of dialysis patients is among the most complex of any disease state. Bioimpedance Analysis (BIA) has gained traction as a valuable tool for assessing fluid balance and nutritional status. While BIA offers valuable insights into body composition and fluid [...]
