Following a Healthy Diet with Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition when your kidneys stop working as well as they should. It is incredibly common in elderly people as kidney function naturally starts to decline as we get older.  While there is no cure for CKD, there are treatment options available to help manage symptoms. It is also possible to slow down the decline in function by making lifestyle changes, such as following a healthy, well-balanced diet that is low in salt.

In this article, we explain how diet can play a role in helping you manage your CKD and how getting the support of dedicated home carers with experience in CKD care can help you to live well in the home you love.

 

What is CKD?

Chronic kidney disease, or CKD as it is more commonly known, is a long-term condition when your kidneys no longer function as they should. There are many causes of kidney disease, but a decline in function is a natural part of the ageing process, which is why CKD is so prevalent in elderly people.

CKD gradually gets worse over time, and there is no cure, so managing the condition and attempting to slow its progress is the focus of treatment. One aspect of this can include making lifestyle changes, such as following a healthy well-balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight and reducing your salt consumption.

Common causes of CKD

Although CKD can be a natural part of the ageing process it can also be caused or exacerbated by conditions that put a strain on the kidneys, including:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Kidney infections
• Kidney inflammation
• Long-term use of certain medications
• Blockages to the flow of urine

Stages of CKD

CKD is a progressive condition and is typically rated in five stages. Stage 1 indicates the beginning of the condition and the least damage to your kidneys while stage 5 indicates that the kidneys have lost almost all of their function.

 

How does diet play a role in CKD?

There is no cure for CKD, so treatment options focus on managing symptoms and slowing the progress of the condition.

The risk of CKD progressing to kidney failure is closely linked to conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Following a healthy, well-balanced diet can help manage these conditions, which in turn can slow down your loss of kidney function.

 

Healthy eating for CKD patients

For most people with CKD, there is no need to follow a specialist diet. Instead, you should simply try to ensure you eat a healthy, varied and well-balanced diet. This will typically include:

• Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables – it is recommended everyone gets at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
• Eating enough fibre – the UK government recommends eating 30g of fibre a day
• Meeting your daily protein requirements – lean meats, like chicken, eggs, fish, nuts and seeds and legumes are all good sources of healthy proteins
• Eating healthy fats – unsaturated fats like avocados, olive oil, nuts and oily fish should be eaten instead of saturated fats like butter, fatty meats and cheese as well as lots of highly-processed food
• Including complex carbohydrates in your diet – this can include whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat bread and oatmeal, starchy vegetables like potatoes, beans, lentils and chickpeas

In addition to following a healthy diet, it is important to try and maintain a healthy weight. If you have a high BMI, trying to lose some weight could help you manage your CKD. Your GP can offer advice on safe ways for you to attempt losing weight, including exercises you may be able to try to support your diet.

Reducing salt intake

Reducing salt intake is an important dietary change that people with CKD can make to help reduce the chances of their condition progressing. To reduce your salt intake, you can:

• Try not to add salt to your food when cooking or at the table
• Check with your healthcare specialist whether salt substitutes are safe for you to use
• Try using herbs or spices to add flavour to food instead of salt
• Avoid highly processed foods which are typically higher in salt
• When choosing pre-packaged foods, opt for items that have a ‘green’ salt rating as this indicates they have a lower salt content

 

Should I follow a special diet for CKD?

In the later stages of CKD, your GP may advise you to follow a special diet with restrictions on some of the foods you can eat and drink.

Typically, the restrictions are based on foods or drinks high in potassium and phosphate, as these minerals can build up in the blood and put extra strain on the kidneys. If your GP does recommend following a specialist diet, they will normally refer you to a specially trained renal dietitian who can provide specialist advice and tailor a diet plan that works for you and your lifestyle.

The dietary restrictions you are advised to follow will depend on the cause and stage of your kidney disease, the medications you are on, your blood test results and whether you have any other conditions, like diabetes. As a result, following a specialist CKD diet is very individual to you and your circumstances, so it’s important not to compare the advice you’ve been given with that of others.

 

Getting support with a CKD diet

Whether you have recently been diagnosed with CKD and are looking for ways to eat healthier, or you are in the later stages of CKD and have been advised to follow a specialist diet, our home carers can provide support tailored to your needs.

We understand that preparing and cooking healthy meals can become more difficult as you age so through our home help services our carers can provide help with  . We can also support people following a restricted diet to help manage their CKD, whether that’s transporting them to dietitian appointments or gently reminding them to follow advice at home.

What’s more, many of our home carers have experience caring for people with complex conditions including CKD, so know the signs and symptoms to look for that could indicate a decline in your condition and the need for more specialist support.

 

How Trinity Homecare can help?

At Trinity Homecare, we have years of experience delivering bespoke home care to support elderly people living with a range of complex conditions. Whether providing visiting care a few times a week or 24/7 support through live-in care, our carers will get to know more about you as a person so that they can provide support tailored to the stage of CKD you are in and the medical advice you have been given to help manage your condition.

 

Trusted home care from Trinity

If you’re looking for home care to support you, trust Trinity Homecare. For the past 25 years, we have provided the highest standards of care in the comfort of people’s own homes. Our carers can provide support with a wide range of complex conditions to ensure you get the care you need to live well in the home you love.

Trinity Homecare is a fully managed care agency with an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating, placing Trinity amongst the top 4% of all nationwide care companies in England. With this in mind, you can rest assured that your loved one will receive the highest standard of care and specialist support.

If you have any questions about arranging home care, simply get in touch with our helpful and knowledgeable care team.

Arranging nationwide home care with Trinity is straightforward. Simply follow these five steps:

1. Call our care team
2. Undergo a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your care needs and arrange a care assessment
3. After the assessment, a plan of care is created
4. A well-suited carer is found and placed
5. Care can be adapted at any time

Add link to carers for cooking small meals for the elderly