Dialysis patient requires a much higher intake of protein than the average person. Too little protein and calorie intake often leads to protein energy malnutrition. To achieve good dialysis outcome, dialysis patient needs to carefully monitor their diet in order to control the waste products and fluids accumulated between dialysis treatments.
Unlike pre-dialysis patients, there is restriction in fluid intake for dialysis patients. Remember that fluid includes not only the water or tea that one intakes, but also the curry one eats. Fluid intake should be strictly followed. Remember some food products which are advertised as low in sodium are actually very high in potassium. So be sure when you buy your groceries, check if low sodium is compromised with high potassium.
It is important to remember that right kind and correct amount of protein is vital for dialysis patients to stay healthy. Protein food contains phosphate. Therefore it is very IMPORTANT that dialysis patients take their phosphate binders with ALL their meals as per doctor’s recommendation.
Control in fluids
Dialysis patients can no longer excrete large quantities of fluids consumed; therefore, excess fluid can be retained in the body resulting in overloading of the blood circulation. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, high blood pressure and swelling of the legs can occur. Thus, both peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis patients will need to consider urine output, remaining kidney function, and body size to restrict their fluid intake. Hemodialysis patients may keep track of weight gain in between two dialysis sessions as a gauge.
Daily allowance for fluid intake can vary from 500ml to 1000 ml per day, depending on the patient’s urine output. Limited urine output does not indicate dehydration in dialysis patients. However, it is an indication of further deterioration of kidney functions.
Your daily fluid allowance includes plain water, tea, coffee, milk, gravy, soup and porridge. Other fluids that are liquid at room temperature such as ice-cube, ice cream, jellies are considered as fluid too.
PROTEIN
Protein can be divided into two categories: high and low quality. For dialysis diet, high-quality protein, for example, meat, poultry, fish and egg whites are more desirable. Most dairy products such as yogurt, milk and cheese also contain high-quality protein. Protein is essential for building and repairing muscles and daily growth. During peritoneal or haemodialysis, some amount of proteins is lost and therefore, patients require a higher protein intake compared to people who are not on dialysis. Eating the right amount of protein will help dialysis patients stay fit as insufficient protein intake could result in weight loss, muscle wasting, reducing the ability to fight infections and thus, leading to malnutrition.
THE INTAKE OF SODIUM, POTASSIUM AND PHOSPHOROUS IN POST DIALYSIS DIET IS SIMILAR TO PRE-DIALYSIS DIET.