What Should Diabetics Eat To Avoid Damage To Kidneys?

Diet for a diabetic is an important aspect that can to manage diabetes and reduce affliction to kidney disease, leading to kidney failure. A dietician is the best person to help a diabetic to know what one should eat and drink. He is a professional helping diabetics to know the amount of calories he should consume every day and guide him about the right amount of protein, fats, carbohydrates he should eat. A dietician guides and instructs him about ways to control sodium, potassium, phosphorus and fluids. Hence a dietician is the most appropriate person to discuss a diabetics diet to guard him against kidney disease leading to kidney failure. 

Yes, specific guidelines are given by the dietician about the amount of protein, fat and carbohydrates, potassium, phosphorus and sodium that a diabetic should eat to guard against kidney diseases. There is every need to lower the extent of these minerals in ones diet, and making planned food choices. Hence there is a need to study labels of food packages carefully to make calculated choices. Yes, dear friends packaged soups, frozen foods popular diet colas, some teas and lemonades do contain excess of sodium and phosphorus. This information does help in better planning of diet. 

Dear friends, the quantity of each meal is also of great importance and the dietician would tell a diabetic all about the serving instructions; it is best to stick to it. Your diabetologist or dietitian will recommend you eat meals and snacks of the same size, calorie and carbohydrate content at regular intervals to maintain blood sugar level. Some diabetics may have lower blood sugar levels, while taking certain medications with progress of kidney failure. Then consumption of certain snacks or foods with extra sugar and fat may be recommended to prevent low blood sugar and maintenance of body weight. In addition adjustments may be made in diabetic medications also.

A dietician would help a diabetic to plan a diet to include foods of various food groups in each meal. While considering carbohydrate foods of the milk and non-diary group it is best to take skim or fat-free milk, non-dairy creamer, plain or sugar-free yogurt, sugar-free pudding and ice cream, and sugar-free nondairy frozen desserts. However one should never take more than 4 ounces because of the high protein, potassium, and phosphorus content. In breads and starches it is best to white bread, unsweetened, refined dry cereals, cream of wheat, grits, malt-o-meal, noodles, pasta, rice, bagel, hamburger bun, unsalted crackers, cornbread and flour tortilla.

Fruits and vegetables form a major part of a diabetics diet. It is best to avoid kidney disease and kidney failure by taking apples, apple juice, applesauce, apricot halves, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, blackberries and blueberries, low sugar cranberry juice, cherries, fruit cocktail, grapefruit, grapes, grape juice, mandarin oranges, pears (canned only)*, pineapple, plums, tangerine and watermelon. Fruit canned in unsweetened juice can usually be taken.

Yes vegetables like corn, peas, mixed vegetables with corn and peas potatoes soaked to reduce potassium, asparagus, beets carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, frozen broccoli cuts, green beans, iceberg lettuce, kale, mustard greens, onions, red and green peppers, radishes, snow peas, summer squash, and turnips can be taken. Beverages like water, Crystal Light®, diet clear sodas homemade tea or lemonade sweetened with an artificial sweetener can be taken.

Besides non-vegetarian and diary items like lean cuts of meat, poultry, fish and seafood; eggs, low cholesterol egg substitute; cottage cheese can be taken in moderation. Seasonings like soft or tub margarine low in trans fats, mayonnaise, sour cream, cream cheese, low fat mayonnaise, low fat sour cream, and low fat cream cheese can be used.

Most other foods can be avoided. However, each diabetic may have different needs, so the dietician is the best person to guide and recommend a diet to you. There may be modifications that may be made in a diabetics diet from time to time due to changes in kidney function and therapy. So following and taking a dietician’s instruction helps avoid adverse conditions.  A vegetarian or vegan diet can sure help a diabetic by helping control ones weight; reduce diabetic associated complications like cardiovascular disease and kidney disease.  

Dear friends, do take the help of your dietician to know about the diet you should take to avoid damage to kidney. He is the best person to tell you all about the quantity of protein, fat, carbohydrate, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, you should take to avoid diabetic complications like kidney disease.