Stage 3 Kidney Disease and Diet: What can I eat?

@collegeprof I hope you will continue to let us know how your case journeys on, and improvements you see. Sharing news with fellow members is always educational, and may be of help to others in a similar situation!

Do you know what herbal tea she will be using? I love having a cuppa tea at day's end.
Ginger

Hi Ginger:

As you may recall, I started receiving treatments from an acupuncturist. In a couple of weeks, my GFR went from 39 to 45. Flash forward to the end of last month of February, my GFR was 44, about the same. So I am stable with no additional improvement yet. I have not received any Chinese herbal treatments yet so this journey will be long as the disease. However, I was warned by my new Mayo nephrologist and dietitian that herbal teas can be dangerous and in some cases not reversible to further kidney disease. I continue to receive once weekly acupuncture visits.

To complicate things for the better, I started taking the prescription drug called Farxiga, recommended by my my nehrologist and endocrinologist . For those with type 2 diabetes , the science says it works to stabalize kidney function in many cases. I am hopeful that this may also aid improvement, or at the very least, continue to be stable for the kidneys. Of course, you also need to adhere to your dietitian and exercise.

So as they say, "time will tell." I am lucky as I can get lab work done with my PCP to monitor my creatinine and GFR levels. It is tough for me to see my Mayo nephrologist more than twice per year. Lastly, I get lab draws within and outside Mayo, but with the exceptions of GFR and glucose, my remaining results are all normal which the acupuncturist may or may not receive total credit.

Hi Ginger:

As you may recall, I started receiving treatments from an acupuncturist. In a couple of weeks, my GFR went from 39 to 45. Flash forward to the end of last month of February, my GFR was 44, about the same. So I am stable with no additional improvement yet. I have not received any Chinese herbal treatments yet so this journey will be long as the disease. However, I was warned by my new Mayo nephrologist and dietitian that herbal teas can be dangerous and in some cases not reversible to further kidney disease. I continue to receive once weekly acupuncture visits.

To complicate things for the better, I started taking the prescription drug called Farxiga, recommended by my my nehrologist and endocrinologist . For those with type 2 diabetes , the science says it works to stabalize kidney function in many cases. I am hopeful that this may also aid improvement, or at the very least, continue to be stable for the kidneys. Of course, you also need to adhere to your dietitian and exercise.

So as they say, "time will tell." I am lucky as I can get lab work done with my PCP to monitor my creatinine and GFR levels. It is tough for me to see my Mayo nephrologist more than twice per year. Lastly, I get lab draws within and outside Mayo, but with the exceptions of GFR and glucose, my remaining results are all normal which the acupuncturist may or may not receive total credit.

The side effects for Farxiga look pretty daunting, especially as a drug to lower blood glucose. A ketogenic, or low carb diet can do the same with no side effects.
https://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=202293&name=FARXIGA

I am losing too much weight. What are some things I can eat to hold my weight steady.

@kamama94 My nephrologist tells me my remaining kidney is doing fine, although it is stage 3. Asked about dietary recommendations, but was told not to worry since I seem to be doing okay. However, I do have concerns with regard to my diet. Pardon my ignorance, but what is "Na," and are we talking about vitamin K and phosphorus?

Things have changed in the last 20 years. When I was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure at the end of that other century, yes, 1999. No one staged my kidney failure, so I do not really understand the numbers. (I had stage 4 lymphoma so I figure stage 4 renal failure is not good.) All I knew about my GITrack was that what I put in my mouth would affect my kidneys one way or another. The worst thing I could eat was animal flesh, beef destroys kidneys and it had to go. I was already having trouble with beef so it was not hard to give it up. I put myself on a vegetarian diet, I was not diabetic but what would it hurt me to do a diabetic-vegetarian diet. I was able to feel good and stay off dialysis for 3 years. At that time if you were told you had renal failure you could be on dialysis in 6 months.

I am happy that, today, others are on a diabetic-vegetarian diet and it is working for them too. Getting use to a new lifestyle change is not easy. For me it was not too hard, I lived by myself, fixed all my own meals and I did not buy things I could not eat - no junk food. I first made a list of foods I could have then went from there - not what I could NOT have. It is just like your wardrobe, you know what works well together so that is what you wear. I like trying new things, if it was on my new food list I would try them together. If I did not like them I would not do it again.

The hard part is if you do not live alone. When my father was diagnosed with diabetes everyone went on the same diet, everyone lost weight and felt better. If your family will not help with your lifestyle change (for medical reasons) then they should not be welcome at your table or you should not eat at theirs. If you grew up eating beef and it was 75% of your meal or any other animal flesh then be thankful you made it this long. A good salad is wonderful, I can make it my entire meal. All fresh vegetables are good to eat raw and good for your body. I might cook some macaroni, adding all the fresh raw vegetables in my refrigerator with a little olive oil and vinegar. I like frozen white corn and petite peas in my salad. I just microwave them for about a minute and they are delicious. I might add carrots, mushrooms, a small amount of lettuce, low-sodium seeds or nuts, cheese and/or cooked white chicken meat, and whatever I have in a big bowl. If I have low sodium crackers I will have them too,

I am thankful that what I did over 15 years ago is now a regular diet for End Stage Renal Failure. I know my doctor had his new patients start a diabetic-vegetarian diet and they did not have to begin dialysis ASAP. He was very happy that I managed to stay off dialysis for 3 years, he never had anyone stay off that long before just from what they ate. I also took my meds as directed.

mlmcg

Hi @nosurgery . I'm a 73 yo retired nurse, small world, eh? Although I don't have diverticulitis (yet, knock on wood) I do have divertiiculosis, which many people my age do have. A perforated bowel and peritonitis are no-joke risks so I see why you have to be so careful. At the same time, having only one kidney (me, too) means being careful about that as well. Although I've consulted with a renal dietitian I've found much better, more up-to-the-minute info at two websites. As a new member I can't post URLs but I can tell you that one is called self (capital S) nutrition data and another is my food data (no spaces) dot com; both list complete nutritional values of various foods, including potassium, phosphorus, fiber, and sodium. Maybe you'd like to google them? Meanwhile, good luck balancing diverticulitis diet with renal diet.