A diabetic kidney diet is important for those with both diabetes and kidney disease. It focuses on maintaining consistent blood sugar levels and reducing sodium, potassium, and phosphorus intake. Low glycemic carbohydrates and vegetables are recommended, while high sodium and potassium foods should be avoided. A registered dietitian can provide guidance on portion control and food choices.
A diabetic kidney diet is a nutritional plan that should be followed by diabetics who also have kidney disease. More than 50 percent of people with chronic kidney disease are also diabetic, underscoring the importance of diabetic patients following a diabetic renal diet. In some cases, the diet is designed for patients already in various stages of kidney failure. In other cases, the diet is designed for a diabetic to follow to try to prevent kidney problems from occurring. Diabetics often have a hard time eating adequately for their diabetes and kidney problems.
The main goal of the diabetic diet is to maintain consistent and acceptable blood sugar levels. This is most easily accomplished by eating at the same time each day, not skipping meals, and choosing foods that are low in glycemic carbohydrates. Including the same amount of carbohydrate at each meal will help the body maintain blood sugar levels without the spikes and valleys seen with uncontrolled diabetes. Examples of low glycemic carbohydrates include brown rice and sweet potatoes. However, sweet potatoes and whole grain breads are high in potassium and should be avoided as part of a renal diabetic diet plan.
A renal diet focuses on reducing the amount of sodium, potassium, and phosphorus in the daily diet. The diabetic can eat a blood sugar lowering diet, while maintaining a renal diet plan. Sodium is found in many foods; therefore, patients should learn to read labels and look for foods that are low in sodium. Additionally, renal diet experts often discourage patients from drinking coffee and dark-colored diet sodas. The sodium content of such products is too high for a diabetic, renal patient to safely consume regularly.
Clear diet sodas, water, and unsweetened teas are generally allowed on the diabetic renal diet plan. Vegetables such as cabbage, eggplant, beets, cauliflower, and broccoli are generally recommended for diabetic diets and renal diets due to their high vitamin content and low potassium and carbohydrate content. Meats high in sodium, such as bacon, sausage, and organ meats, should also be avoided.
Raw vegetables are preferable to canned vegetables for many reasons, including vitamin potency; however, with a diabetic renal diet, it becomes especially important, since canned vegetables are typically very high in sodium content. Several sessions with a registered dietitian can provide the diabetic kidney patient with an overview of the foods that she should enjoy and those that should be avoided. Portion control is also important when it comes to blood sugar control, and a nutritionist will help the patient learn about portion sizes.
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