Conversation Starter Chronic Renal Failure Hello. My name is ________________________ , and I am the dietitian at this facility. I understand that you recently learned that you have chronic renal failure. I’d like to help you understand how this might affect your diet. Chronic renal failure means that your kidneys are not working like they are supposed to and that they are slowly getting worse. The kidneys work to remove wastes from the body, concentrate urine, and conserve electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium. Chronic renal failure happens slowly and is often caused by high blood pressure or diabetes. In many cases of chronic renal failure, the kidney function gets worse and worse, and the patient eventually needs dialysis to help clear wastes from the body. The goal of treatment for chronic renal failure is to control symptoms, reduce complications, and slow down the kidney failure. One way to slow kidney failure and to prevent dialysis is to make changes in the diet to help keep the kidneys as healthy as possible. You may already be watching your carbohydrate or salt intake to control diabetes or blood pressure. With chronic kidney disease, you may need to make some additional changes in your diet.  Eating right can help control the buildup of waste products in the blood and prevent your kidneys from having to work too hard. Dietary changes are recommended based on testing that is done by your doctor. As a rule, it is suggested that you reduce the amount of protein, sodium, and phosphorous in your diet when you have chronic kidney disease. The body needs protein every day for growth, tissue repair, and building of muscles. But too much protein can cause stress on the kidneys, because the kidney can’t get rid of the urea, which is a waste product of protein. Eating less protein can help slow down kidney failure. Protein is found mainly in poultry, meat, seafood, dairy foods (milk, cheese, yogurt), dried beans (kidney beans, black beans), nuts and nut butters, and eggs. Patients with chronic kidney disease may have kidneys that are unable to remove excess phosphorous from the blood. Too much phosphorous can cause calcium loss and result in weak bones, which break easily. Eating less phosphorous can help prevent this from happening. Your doctor might prescribe a medicine called a phosphate binder, which will help remove phosphorous from your body. Phosphorous is found in many foods, but especially dairy foods, dried beans and peas, nuts and nut butters, and drinks, such as cola and beer. You may need to limit sodium in your diet, if you aren’t doing so already, because high blood pressure and kidney disease often are related. To reduce sodium, use less table salt in cooking and on foods, and limit your intake of packaged and processed foods, such as boxed dinners, canned soups, and processed cheeses, as well as olives, pickles, sauerkraut, and smoked and cured foods, such as ham and bacon.  Sometimes patients with kidney disease also need to watch the potassium in their diets. Too much potassium can affect the way the heart works. Potassium is found in many foods, but especially in fresh fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, citrus, avocados, black beans, and other legumes; greens, such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, and spinach; and other foods, including potatoes, milk, and bran cereals. Making dietary changes is hard, but necessary to help keep your kidneys healthy. A registered dietitian can help you decide exactly what you should eat. It is a good idea to try to meet with a registered dietitian a few times to help you learn what foods you can eat and what foods you should avoid. Your insurance may cover some visits with a dietitian. Are there any questions I may answer for you?   Review Date 3/08 R-0503