Planning a Kidney-friendly Diet Meal

Diet plans are very important for men and women who have kidney problems because food affects the health of the individual, health experts believe, hence it may help to have a proper meal plan. It is important to maintain a healthy weight with a balanced meal plan low in salt and helps in controlling blood sugar levels, according to the American Kidney Fund. There are several factors that need to be considered when planning a healthy meal because patients may develop more problems if they do not follow the proper diet plan. Those who have been under dialysis treatment are following the news about the claims of a Nevada woman of wrongful death.

The basics of a healthy diet include managing these factors:

–      Calories

o   It is the unit of energy produced by food. Controlling the calorie intake is vital for preventing other health problems such as diabetes and high cholesterol.

–      Protein

o   This is needed by the body in order to grow and heal but it needs to be managed carefully because having too much or too little may cause problems.

–      Carbohydrates

o   These are the easiest source of energy and are mostly found in sugar, fruits, and vegetables. Having more than the needed carbohydrate may lead to diabetes or fat deposits because the body is not able to use the extra sugar.

–      Fat

o   Contrary to most popular belief, the body needs fat. Fat are considered to be the energy reserves of the body when it is low on glucose.

–      Sodium

o   All foods contain sodium and it important to maintain a healthy amount of sodium in the diet. Having too much sodium in the diet will create more damage to the kidneys and possibly the heart because it may increase the fluid intake.

–      Potassium

o   This is also one of the minerals that are often found in foods. Oftentimes, men and women who have kidney disease need to limit potassium as it may cause muscle weakness and cramps. Irregular heartbeat may also be caused by too much or too little of this mineral.

–      Phosphorus

o   This mineral goes together with calcium and vitamin D to help the bones remain healthy. However, phosphorus may build-up in the blood because the kidneys are not able to get rid of the extra phosphorus.

Managing the dietary needs of patients with kidney disease is important especially when they are under dialysis treatment. However, due to the GranuFlo and NaturaLyte lawsuit filed by these men and women, some people are wary of undergoing dialysis treatment with dietary restrictions.

Mississippi Woman Blames GranuFlo of Premature Death

The recalled dialysis solution, GranuFlo, was blamed of premature death in a case filed by a woman from Mississippi, news reports say. The allegations against Fresenius Medical Care was filed by Mary Jane Brinkley almost two years after her husband died from the dialysis treatment using the recalled dialysis solution. The use of GranuFlo was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to be used concomitantly during dialysis treatment because it helps normalize the levels of bicarbonate in the blood. However, there were several patients who had developed dangerously high levels of bicarbonate.

Thomas Brinkley died shortly after experiencing chest pains following his dialysis treatment, in which Mrs. Brinkley stated that they were unaware of the possible side effects. Mr. Brinkley died of cardiac arrest as the paramedics were unable to revive him. Mrs. Brinkley believes that Fresenius Care is liable because the company did not disclose the possible dangers to patients.

Read More At:
Mississippi Woman Alleges GranuFlo Caused Husband’s Premature Death

GranuFlo MDL Discovery Process In Progress

Dialysis treatment is life-saving for patients with advance kidney problems, health experts say, but there have been some problems with the acid concentrates like GranuFlo that are used in the treatment. There are about 200 cases filed by plaintiffs with claims of injuries related to the use of GranuFlo, news reports say. The discovery phase of the court proceedings for the GranuFlo cases is now well in progress in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

The judge overseeing these cases is Judge Douglas P. Woodloock and the discovery process was established in a Case Management Order dated October 1, 2013. The plaintiffs and defendant of the cases will have the chance to gather information that will help in stating their claims. All medical records will need to be gathered by November 27, 2013 and the cases to be included for the bellwether trials need to be submitted by January 6, 2014. These bellwether cases will help determine if these cases will be settled out of court or proceed to trial.

Read More At:
Discovery Process Underway in GranuFlo MDL

Dos and Don’ts of Food for Dialysis Patients

It is challenging for the body to go through the dialysis treatment if not properly nourished, urologic specialists believe, eating right is imperative in managing one’s health better. Persons with renal problem who are under dialysis may be able to improve their health through the aid of a good meal plan prepared by a renal dietician, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC). Loss of kidney function may only worsen when the patient does not eat correctly. Too much fluid intake in-between these dialysis sessions will increase the risk of having heart problems, hence, it is imperative to regulate fluid intake.

Three of the minerals found in food that needs to be regulated are potassium, phosphorus and sodium. Too much of these three may result to severe health complications but a healthy kidney is often able to manage decreasing excess amounts of these minerals. Too much sodium may make the person thirsty and lead to more water intake, too much potassium may lead to heart problems and too much phosphorus may cause bone and skin problems. Men and women who are under treatment need to monitor their sodium, potassium and phosphorus intake.

Those who are undergoing this procedure are also advised to increase protein intake as there are small amounts of protein loss after the treatment. There is also a change in the body’s metabolism that allows protein breakdown even before the body has any need for it. Still, it is important to monitor the waste products of protein breakdown by only eating protein with high biological value (HBV) to prevent its build-up before the next treatment session. Urea is the by-product of protein breakdown and it may increase in large amount in the blood if not regulated properly. Eggs, poultry, meat and fish contain protein with HBV but patients are advised to choose lean meat because it has less fat and phosphorus.

The daily calorie consumption varies depending on the needs of the patient. Others may need to reduce their intake while some are advised to gain more weight. Vegetable oil is often recommended as it helps in increasing the weight without increasing the risk for health problems. There are some who may need to cut down on their daily caloric intake and a renal dietician may be able to help in making appropriate meal plans. Dialysis treatment is an option for those with advanced kidney problems but there are also some complications linked to this procedure.

URL References:
kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/eatright/#affect
nephron.org/nephsites/adp/protein.htm
kidney.org/atoz/content/dietary_hemodialysis.cfm