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

@rosemarya, thank you for the introduction to @kamama94. It is flattering. From her postings that I’ve seen it sounds like she has a pretty good handle on her dietary situation. I also am unsure of how to post links but there is a webinar offered by AKF (American Kidney Fund) on “Eating healthy with diabetes and kidney disease” on Wed, Nov, 28, 2018. I found this on Facebook and just registered for it. I thought it would be useful information for me as I deal with both ailments. I know many others do too. There is another conversation called “Confused About Diet for Stage 3 or 4 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)” that is part of the Discussion Kidney & Bladder. Some of those folk might find this webinar helpful.

Thank you for asking how I am feeling these days. I feel ok but I’ll try to provide a quick update. In September I went to Mayo for my annual pretransplant review. My GFR was 29 and my UNOS transplant listing status was changed to “inactive” for now. This means my kidney function is currently stable and I’m too healthy for a kidney transplant now. This is great since the transplant list is long and my search for a living kidney donor has not gone well. On the diabetes side of things I’m not doing so well. My beloved pancreas transplant (13 years now) is not keeping up. The endocrinologist I saw in September at Mayo emphatically declared that I am now a type 2 diabetic. He laid out some treatment options and we chose a non insulin injection for type 2 along with the basal insulin that I’m currently taking. Problem is my insurance doesn’t cover the new med and the insurance suggested alternatives are not appropriate for someone with my level of CKD! We’ve been going around in circles with departments at the insurance/pharmacy associates and 2 departments at Mayo that the physician works out of to get a decision on an appeal. This has been going on for months. 😒😔☹️

@rosemarya, thank you for the introduction to @kamama94. It is flattering. From her postings that I’ve seen it sounds like she has a pretty good handle on her dietary situation. I also am unsure of how to post links but there is a webinar offered by AKF (American Kidney Fund) on “Eating healthy with diabetes and kidney disease” on Wed, Nov, 28, 2018. I found this on Facebook and just registered for it. I thought it would be useful information for me as I deal with both ailments. I know many others do too. There is another conversation called “Confused About Diet for Stage 3 or 4 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)” that is part of the Discussion Kidney & Bladder. Some of those folk might find this webinar helpful.

Thank you for asking how I am feeling these days. I feel ok but I’ll try to provide a quick update. In September I went to Mayo for my annual pretransplant review. My GFR was 29 and my UNOS transplant listing status was changed to “inactive” for now. This means my kidney function is currently stable and I’m too healthy for a kidney transplant now. This is great since the transplant list is long and my search for a living kidney donor has not gone well. On the diabetes side of things I’m not doing so well. My beloved pancreas transplant (13 years now) is not keeping up. The endocrinologist I saw in September at Mayo emphatically declared that I am now a type 2 diabetic. He laid out some treatment options and we chose a non insulin injection for type 2 along with the basal insulin that I’m currently taking. Problem is my insurance doesn’t cover the new med and the insurance suggested alternatives are not appropriate for someone with my level of CKD! We’ve been going around in circles with departments at the insurance/pharmacy associates and 2 departments at Mayo that the physician works out of to get a decision on an appeal. This has been going on for months. 😒😔☹️

Cehunt, It is good to hear from you. I knew that you were going to be going to Mayo, and I am happy for the update.

You are on quite journey, both good and not so good things going on. I know how diligent you are about taking care of you. And I admire your determination and your desire to keep on learning more about how to best approach your conditions.
I can almost sense the dizzying merry-go-round / tug of war that you are experiencing currently. I hope that a solution will soon happen so you can continue to get the treatment that you need. It sounds like you are satisfied with effects of the new med. Keep in touch and let me know how this turns out.
A question - If the insurance won't cooperate, what about assistance from the Chronic Disease fund or some similar nonprofit. I feel sure that the pharmacict would be able to advise you where you might make a contact.

Thank you for sharing the information. I just posted it to both discussions.

Hugs

@rosemarya, thank you! You are always helpful and an encourager. I haven’t started the new med yet because of the insurance problem. The pharmacy has not been helpful. They just suggested covered alternatives that the doctor said aren’t appropriate/safe for me. They also wanted to know if I wanted them to fill the prescription and if I would agree to paying out of pocket. I can’t do that. I’m still following my previous treatment plan with unsatisfactory results. I will look into the Chronic Disease Fund. I am also scheduled for follow up with my local endocrinologist in January. She knows me better and has followed me longer than the Mayo doc. I might try to get in with her sooner than January if I continue having such trouble.

Have you thought about contacting social worker who is associated with the transplant department. They should be able to give you some helpful information. I don’t imagine that your inactive status would matter. I think that this is the kind of thing they are equipped to help you with.

@carnes I also am borderline Stage 3/4 Kidney Disease. Currently I follow five limiting diets: low fiber, low carbohydrates, low fat, low dairy and low oxilate. I eat popcorn, rice cakes, rice, Grape Nuts, Shredded Wheat, bananas, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, pears (few), cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew, oranges (few), green beans, peas, corn, cabbage, cucumbers (raw), onions, tomatoes, avocadoes, summer squash, carrots (few and most often cooked), asparagus, chicken, lean beef, tuna, fresh/frozen fish, a little pork, and a small amount of dairy from cheese, yogurt, ice cream and milk. The way to enjoy the foods you can eat is with your seasoning. I had very little available to me during a long hospital stay and watched cooking shows. Now I often check recipe sites for ideas: FoodNetwork, Cooking.com, Allrecipies.com, to name a few. I do put canned dry beans in my chili, but we only eat that a few times a month. I encourage you to check some things out and would love to hear how you are doing. Good luck.

@acarnes, IDK if this would work for you but have found it pretty satisfying. It's very low in potassium and phosphorus and calories so you can increase amount if you need to and it contains no flour.

Vegetarian Omelet with cheese and veggies 189 mg K (9 %) 70.4 mg P (7 %)
Egg Beater ¼ C 127.8 mg K, 43.2 mg P
Daiya non-dairy mozzarella-flavored shreds 20 mg K, 20 mg P
1 T chopped onion 24.9 mg K 5.3 mg P 1
T chopped bell pepper 16.3 mg K, 1.9 mg P
Sm amt EVOO
Saute onion and bell pepper in sm amt EVOO in small skillet or in nonstick skillet without EVOO, remove and drain, turn heat to low
Pour 1 svg Egg Beater into pan and cook slowly, lifting up edges to allow uncooked egg to run underneath
Sprinkle pepper and onion over cooked egg, top with mozzarella shreds
Fold over and remove omelet to plate
For those who don’t tolerate bell pepper, celery can be substituted 27 mg K 2.3 mg P

How kind of you to write out a receipt. I have tried and do eat omelette eggs, red bell peppers, and onions, not bad, now with your idea of a little cheese will make it tastier. I do have to watch my fat intake though. Appreciate your suggestions. We need to do all we can to slow down the progression because I for one am scared Of the thought of dialysis!