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

Here are the files that @kamama94 was speaking about! She is a rockstar, compiling all this data for use by anyone!

As others have mentioned, diet including what we eat, how often, can be different for different people based on co-existing health concerns. But we all get a chance to learn from each other!
Ginger

Thanks, Ginger.

Please let everyone know that some of the information in these files is now outdated. Manufacturers change ingredients and/or amounts frequently so please read the nutrition label on every food item before consuming it.

In addition, potassium amounts are now required to be listed on most foods but phosphorus still isn't required so your best friend to "ballpark" phosphorus amounts in a serving of something is the USDA website which lists nutrients for generic foods - brand names also can be listed but no phosphorus amounts are required, which is why I use the generic version.

Since I have several comorbidities, my personal nutritional parameters are the best I could come up with and my docs approve but these parameters work for me, at least for the time being. I'm not saying they'll work for anyone else, they just work for my renal/diabetic/gastroparesis vegetarian diet.

Another word of caution: since I no longer can eat certain iron-bearing veggies, I'm anemic but can't tolerate iron supplements. If you can tolerate spinach and other iron containing veggies, go for it.

Also, as a diabetic I no longer need much, if any, short-acting insulin at meals and only 8 units of long acting insulin at bedtime but please don't expect my parameters to work the same for you as they are (at least temporarily) for me.

My daily intake guidelines are:
1000-1200 cal 700-800 P 1600-2400 K 1500-1700 Na 33-36 prtn 150-260 crb 10-15 fbr 22-50 ft 8 mg Fe

@littlebit71, same here. I have type 2 diabetes as well as CKD and gastroparesis and the diets for each conflict with each other! I had to compromise and what I'm eating isn't quite enough but I do the best I can and although I'm anemic and tired I'm still here and manage to get through each day fairly well. It's a seesaw, for sure.

If you are comfortable looking online for information there is much to learn. Be sure to reference reliable recent sources though as outdated information is still out there. National Kidney Foundation is a really good source. Plant based, non processed foods seems to be bringing folks the best nutrition and protecting kidneys. An example is quinoa, which I never really thought I liked. I’ve discovered it’s yummy prepared like oatmeal, with a plant based milk ( I use an easy homemade almond milk). I add fresh or frozen berries and just a bit of honey or pure maple syrup. one cup of quinoa contains 8 grams of complete protein full of antioxidants and other nutrients. I’ve found that life with CKD gets easier as I find more “favorites”, to incorporate into my menu. Keep hunting for those and be open to trying new things…you may be surprised at how many you’ll like!

I have ckd 3b with diet restrictions for sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and gluten. Can anyone help with food suggestions? I've been to a dietitian and received the restrictions for all of the above & am more confused now. Thank you. Paige

You are right
When for instance you read about Diabetes 2 recipies you establish that those recipies are not good for kidney patients
When you read kidney friendly recipies they include foods that are not diabetes friendly

I just had my second Chemo infusion for bladder cancer.....

The third is scheduled for November 15, at the VA hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.

After that, they will evaluate. Regardless, both my bladder and prostate will eventually be surgically removed.

In general, I can tolerate pain fairly well. What might I expect, and for how long?

Can I ask if the sodium, potassium and phosphorous restrictions were based on lab results, or general guideline limits? I have read from creditable resources that those things only need to be restricted if lab numbers I indicate out of range results. Of course, everyone should stay within regular range limits for those things.

And if you also have gastroparesis you have to eliminate a lot of kidney-friendly foods and diabetic-friendly foods! You have to walk a tightrope balancing low fiber, soft foods (nothing raw, no legumes) with appropriate carbs and watch protein, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, protein, etc., etc. Being dairy intolerant really throws a wrench into the works. I'm still alive but my renaldiabeticgastronondairy diet is inadequate and I'm anemic and exhausted but still able to force myself to get through each day so far.

@paigem Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You are in the right group discussion here, to look at suggestions for for renal [kidney] diet ideas. I suggest you read through the posts carefully!

The big goal of watching our sodium/potassium/phosphorous/calcium is to lessen the burden on our kidneys as they process the wastes created in our bodies. Much like blood pressure is one of the main causes of chronic kidney disease, getting that under control will lessen the burden on our kidneys. And you will find that although we all may have the tag that shows we are kidney disease patients, there often may be other things going on with us. What generally works for all is good, however as individuals we might need to tweak our diets. For example, while I am a kidney disease patient, I also have a gout issue, so I cannot eat shellfish or pork or purines. And, I actually take a potassium supplement, so monitoring that intake is not as critical as it might be for someone else.

@kamama94 has posted several times about the recipes and guidelines she had researched in her quest for good nutrition while on a renal diet. It takes work for us to get and stay healthy!
Ginger