Hemodialysis is a type of dialysis where the patient’s blood is pumped out of their body and through a machine called a dialyzer, which acts as an artificial kidney to remove waste and excess fluids. The cleaned blood is then returned to the patient’s body. Peritoneal dialysis is another type of dialysis where a special fluid is injected into the patient’s abdominal cavity, where it draws waste and excess fluid from the blood into the fluid. The fluid is then drained from the body and replaced with fresh fluid.
What stage of kidney is dialysis
Dialysis is typically used to treat End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), which is the final stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) when the kidneys have lost most of their function. ESRD is also known as Stage 5 CKD. At this stage, the kidneys are no longer able to remove waste and excess fluid from the body, which can lead to dangerous levels of toxins and fluid buildup in the blood. Dialysis helps to remove these waste products and excess fluid from the blood to help maintain the patient’s health and well-being.
Here are some important points to keep in mind regarding your diet and fluid intake while on hemodialysis:
Your diet and fluid intake can affect how you feel and how well your treatments work.
Between treatments, waste can build up in your blood, so it’s important to limit or avoid foods and beverages that are high in potassium, phosphorus, and sodium.
You may feel better if you keep track of and limit how much liquid you consume.
Hemodialysis removes extra fluid from your body, but if you come to your treatment with too much fluid in your body, you may feel ill.
Eating too much potassium can be dangerous to your heart and may even cause death.
Too much phosphorus in your blood can weaken your bones and make them more likely to break.
High-quality protein from meat, poultry, fish, and eggs produces less waste for removal during dialysis, so it’s encouraged.
Sodium is found in many foods and can make you thirsty, so it’s important to watch your sodium intake.
Calorie needs are different for everyone, so it’s important to adjust your intake accordingly.
You may not be getting enough vitamins and minerals from your diet, so talk to your healthcare provider about taking supplements designed for people with kidney failure.
Before taking any supplements or medicine, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider for safety reasons.
Foods to be avoided:
Processed foods should be avoided due to their high sodium, monosodium glutamate (MSG), simple sugars, and potassium content.
Fast food items such as pizza and burgers are high in saturated and trans fats, as well as MSG, sodium, and potassium, and should be avoided. High protein foods should also be avoided before dialysis.
Milk and milk products should be avoided due to their high potassium content, as should fruits such as bananas, avocados, musk melons, and strawberries, which can be harmful to kidney health in CKD.
Nuts, seeds, and beans in their dried form should also be avoided due to their high potassium content.
Soft drinks should be avoided due to their high levels of phosphoric acid, which can harm the kidneys in CKD.
Organ meats such as liver, heart, and kidney are rich sources of potassium and should be avoided.
Liquid intake should be limited to avoid high blood pressure, with a general recommendation of 1000 ml per day.
Here are some Do’s and Don’ts for a kidney-friendly diet after dialysis:
Do’s:
Make sure to include sufficient protein in your diet after dialysis.
Eat a well-balanced and healthy diet.
Opt for leaching vegetables that are high in potassium before cooking them.
Eat fruits such as apples, guavas, pears, pineapples, and papayas.
Eat all gourd vegetables, tinda, capsicum, cabbage, cauliflower, and onions.
Include foods rich in calcium such as milk and leached green leafy vegetables.
Don’ts:
Avoid drinking water in large quantities at once, instead take small sips throughout the day.
Avoid high-sodium foods that might increase your blood sodium levels.
Avoid fatty, smoked, and frozen foods that contain preservatives.
Don’t consume sugary foods or beverages and alcoholic drinks.
Avoid smoking.