@gingerw, Thanks for posting this link and for posing the question of how nutritional eating affects us. Until diagnosed with pre-diabetes and kidney disease, the word "diet" had never been a part of my vocab. Maintaining a slender frame and stable weight most of my adult life, I ate whatever appealed at the moment. Those diagnoses coming close together, along with an unwanted large wt loss really changed my approach to food.

Suddenly, my changed circumstances brought foods and meal planning a high priority. Help from a dietitian, who provided a combined diabetes & CKD meal plan, incredibly shortened and simplified the time and effort I'd been spending printing out lists of recommended and to avoid foods for each condition.

I became interested in preparing new, recipes and greatly reduced carry-out and restaurant trips. Fortunately, I'd already adopted this healthier food style before Covid so was already spending a far greater amount of time in the kitchen. By greatly restricting red meats in favor of more veggie protein foods, adopting a more Mediterrean diet and following the meal guidance given by the dietitian, I was able to improve my kidney scores and move A1c "pre-diabetes" lab scores back to "normal" range. I became friends with a wider range of veggies, used and liked new seasonings and became a true advocate of "we are what we eat". Smiles!