Every patient in the healthcare system is part of a team, whether they know it or not. Behind the scenes of every appointment or clinic visit is a world of conversation and collaboration intended to support better health outcomes. Dietitians and nurses serve as critical components of many such interdisciplinary teams (IDT). In dialysis, [...]
How many times have you witnessed unintentional weight loss in your dialysis patients? Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence that is frequently overlooked and undertreated, especially in patients who are considered obese. I can’t tell you how many times, when I was working in dialysis clinics, nephrologists or mid-level providers discounted unintentional weight loss [...]
Drawing on my own experience as a registered dietitian (RD), I found counseling patients on weight loss to be difficult. As a clinician, I understand that weight loss may be necessary for patients who need to: Qualify for transplant Improve diabetes and cardiovascular health Improve overall quality of life Yet many patients struggle to [...]
During cold and flu season there are a few things that come to mind to protect ourselves from bacteria and viruses. Things like vaccines, regular handwashing, masking in public spaces, and maybe reaching for the echinacea or elderberry. But to boost our immune systems, sometimes we need to think small, or micro. Micronutrients are [...]
Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents and Intra-Dialytic Parenteral Nutrition: A Lifeline for Dialysis Patients Living with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and undergoing regular hemodialysis (HD) treatments can be a challenging and life-altering experience. Dialysis patients often face complications related to anemia and malnutrition, which can significantly affect their quality of life. In fact, one in seven people [...]
My name is Heidi Wisnioski and I’m here to share that even as a dietitian going on 13 years of practice, I don’t think I ever truly understood how important it was to keep your gut healthy until I started struggling with my own autoimmune issues. Sure, I knew how to eat healthy, but [...]
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and gastroparesis. As a result, it is not uncommon for dialysis dietitians to come across a patient with diabetic gastroparesis who has a complicated medical picture and is at high risk for malnutrition and poor glycemic control. Read on to learn [...]
This year marks my 29th year as a registered dietitian. Prior to my current role with Patient Care America as a nutrition therapy consultant I spent 18 years in dialysis and most of my career was built on using the traditional interviewing method which I refer to as the “fix it method.” I had [...]
Sleep disturbances are prevalent among individuals with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), posing significant challenges to their overall well-being and quality of life. Factors such as malnutrition, fluid retention and anxiety can contribute to sleep difficulties affecting various aspects of the dialysis patients’ physical health, their cognitive function, and mood regulation. Today, we hope to [...]
Every month a key biomarker is assessed in patients on dialysis to help assess mineral and bone health, that marker is serum phosphate. And unfortunately, more often than not, the numbers don’t look good. In one study by Antonio and colleagues published in 2022, 66% of patients in a cohort of 2,176 patients had [...]
