What is New in Kidney Transplant?
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
This episode of Let's Talk About Kidneys, Dr. Saim, a nephrologist with Dallas Nephrology Associates, discusses what is new in kidney transplant. The podcast discusses advancements in kidney transplantation, focusing on the benefits and risks of living and deceased donor transplant. Dr. Saim highlights that over 25,000 transplants were performed last year, with nearly 7,000 from living donors. Living donor transplants offer better survival rates and shorter waiting time. The waiting list has nearly 100,000 patients, with blood group O having the longest wait. ...
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Dialysis Patients and Their Diet
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
Let's Talk About Kidneys Dialysis Patients and Their Diet In this episode of Let’s Talk About Kidneys, Dr. Rao, a nephrologist at Dallas Nephrology Associates, discusses the importance of diet for all dialysis patients. She emphasizes the need for dietary modifications even before dialysis, focusing on reducing salt intake, managing potassium and phosphorus levels, and maintaining adequate protein consumption. Introduction Dr. Rao shares her background, mentioning that she joined Dallas Nephrology Associates fifteen years ago and sees patients mostly in Mesquite, Sunnyvale, and...
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New Treatment Therapies In Kidney Care
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Kidneys podcast, Dr. Roberto Collazo addresses the development of new treatments for kidney disease that are essential for slowing disease progression, improving patient outcomes, and preventing kidney failure. Throughout his discussion, he will examine various therapeutic options currently available, as well as those expected in the future. What types of treatments have there been in the past for patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)? Dr. Collazo addressed the medications available during the 1990s and early 2000s. He also discussed newly...
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Weight Management Strategies with CKD
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Kidneys podcast, Dallas Nephrology Associates Dietitian, Nadiya Lakhani, RDN, CSR, LD, FNKF, explains why weight management is important to the general population and how it affects the kidneys. How does weight affect the kidneys? When the body carries more weight than it can handle, it increases the demand on the kidneys to hyper filtrate. In other words, it forces your kidneys to work harder, which will eventually cause them to be overworked. On the flip side, unintentional weight loss increases the risk of that person having increased...
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Kidney Transplant - Getting Started
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Kidneys podcast, Dr. Muhammad Qureshi talks about the benefits of a kidney transplant, why it’s a good choice after kidney failure, and what the process looks like before, during and after. Why should a CKD patient consider a kidney transplant? Dr. Qureshi talks about the fact that there are both mortality and morbidity benefits of a kidney transplant. In other words, not only do you live longer, but you live better. Who qualifies for a kidney transplant? Anyone who has a kidney function less than 20% or someone who has already...
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Considering Dialysis at Home
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Kidneys podcast, Dr. Lauren McDonald talks about the types of dialysis that can be done successfully in your own home including home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. She puts extra emphasis on the fact that choosing the right dialysis modality is a very personal choice and should be made based on a patient’s lifestyle and what is most important to them. Overview of Home Hemodialysis Home hemodialysis is done in the home. Currently, the dialysis machine is about the size of a nightstand and everything is self contained. It does require 3.5...
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Types of Dialysis: What type of dialysis is best for me? Overview of the three types of dialysis.
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Kidneys podcast, Dr. Richey talks about the different types of dialysis and provides an overview to help patients and caregivers to understand what is involved and how to decide which modality is right for each patient. When is dialysis necessary? Dialysis is recommended when a patient’s kidneys can no longer safely support them. This is determined based on several factors: Creatinine levels Potassium levels Fluid overload Dr. Richey also mentions that doctors consider how the patient feels in addition to the items above. Can...
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A Day in the Life of a Nephrologist
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
No day is ever the same for a nephrologist. Dallas Nephrology Associates’ Dr. Paul Skluzacek may see his kidney patients in the office, have hospital rounds, dialysis rounds and much more. In this episode of Let’s Talk About Kidneys, learn about Dr. Skluzacek’s busy days providing patient care and how his schedule changes from one day to another. What is a Nephrologist? are kidney doctors. They have special training that includes completion of medical school followed by a residency in Internal Medicine and then additional specialty training in Nephrology. They treat systemic...
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Sodium and Your CKD Diet
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
When most people think of sodium, they think of salt. In this episode of Let’s Talk About Kidneys, Dallas Nephrology Associates’ Senior Clinical Dietitian Carolyn Cochran breaks down what sodium is, how to identify it in common foods and ways to make lifestyle adjustments for healthier kidneys. What is sodium? Sodium is one of three important electrolytes found in the body. Electrolytes control the fluids going in and out of your body’s tissues and cells. “Sodium is essential for life,” Carolyn says. “It's in animals, vegetables, minerals and is important...
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What to Expect at Your First Visit with a Nephrologist
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
Your first visit to the doctor after being diagnosed with kidney disease can be a big deal. Tune into this episode where Dallas Nephrologist Dr. Michael R. Wiederkehr breaks down what to expect at your first visit with a nephrologist at Dallas Nephrology Associates. Why do I need to see a Nephrologist? Nephrologists – experts in kidney care – treat conditions that affect the kidneys. Primary care physicians run routine blood or urine tests. When these results are abnormal, it could indicate that something is wrong with the kidneys. In this case, the primary care doctor...
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Dialysis Patients and Their Diet
In this episode of Let’s Talk About Kidneys, Dr. Rao, a nephrologist at Dallas Nephrology Associates, discusses the importance of diet for all dialysis patients. She emphasizes the need for dietary modifications even before dialysis, focusing on reducing salt intake, managing potassium and phosphorus levels, and maintaining adequate protein consumption.
Introduction
Dr. Rao shares her background, mentioning that she joined Dallas Nephrology Associates fifteen years ago and sees patients mostly in Mesquite, Sunnyvale, and Garland. Dr. Rao explains her role in caring for CKD patients and dialysis patients, emphasizing the importance of dietary guidance for kidney disease management.
Importance of Diet in Kidney Disease
Dr. Rao highlights the significance of diet in managing kidney disease, noting that dietary changes are necessary even in early stages of CKD. She discusses the impact of risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure on kidney function and the need for balanced mineral intake. Dr. Rao emphasizes the importance of reducing salt intake and avoiding processed foods, canned items, and fast food for better kidney health.
Dietary Changes for CKD Patients
Dr. Rao explains that dietary modifications should begin early in the CKD journey to delay disease progression and improve patient wellness. She outlines common dietary changes for CKD patients, including reducing salt intake, avoiding processed foods, and managing potassium and phosphorus levels. Dr. Rao stresses the importance of maintaining a balance of minerals in the body to prevent toxic effects and ensure overall wellness.
Protein Intake for Dialysis Patients
Dr. Rao discusses the importance of protein for dialysis patients, noting that protein levels can fluctuate due to kidney disorders and inflammation. She recommends consuming adequate protein in every meal, with examples like egg whites, lean meats, fish, lentils, and beans.
Specific Dietary Needs for Hemodialysis
Dr. Rao explains the dietary needs for hemodialysis patients, emphasizing the importance of fluid management and avoiding fluid overload. She provides practical tips for managing fluid intake, such as choosing smaller portions, avoiding extra salt, and using smaller cups at restaurants. Dr. Rao discusses the impact of salt consumption on fluid retention and the importance of planning ahead when eating out.
Peritoneal Dialysis Dietary Restrictions
Dr. Rao contrasts the dietary needs for hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, noting that peritoneal dialysis allows for slightly more flexibility in potassium intake. She explains that the ongoing nature of peritoneal dialysis makes it gentler on the body and less restrictive in terms of diet. Dr. Rao emphasizes the importance of individualized dietary guidelines based on the patient's unique medical condition and cultural background.
Meal Planning for Dialysis Patients
Dr. Rao outlines a typical meal plan for dialysis patients, starting with a breakfast of egg whites, oatmeal, and low-potassium fruits. For lunch, she suggests grilled chicken, salad, low-sodium dressings, and low-potassium vegetables. Dinner can include lean meat, rice, and low-potassium fruits for dessert, with a focus on avoiding high-sodium and high-phosphorus foods.
Dining Out and Restaurant Tips
Dr. Rao provides tips for dialysis patients dining out, recommending planning ahead by reviewing menus online and making specific requests for low-sodium options. She advises using steamed vegetables, avoiding soy sauce, and choosing smaller portions to manage fluid and sodium intake. Dr. Rao suggests packing half of the meal before starting to help with portion control and avoid overindulging.
Grocery Shopping Tips
Dr. Rao offers practical tips for grocery shopping, recommending fresh fruits and vegetables with lower potassium content. She advises avoiding bananas, oranges, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, and opting for green vegetables. Dr. Rao highlights the importance of reading labels for sodium and phosphorus content, and choosing fresh, lean meats and soy protein.
Prepared Meals and Additional Resources
Dr. Rao discusses the benefits of prepared meals, emphasizing the importance of choosing grilled meat over fried and low-sodium options. Dr. Rao encourages patients to utilize online resources from the National Kidney Foundation and other dialysis organizations for additional dietary guidance.
Conclusion and Encouragement
Dr. Rao summarizes the importance of maintaining a proper diet for managing CKD and dialysis, emphasizing the role of nutrition in treatment and management. She advises patients to communicate with their healthcare providers, dietitians, and nephrologists for ongoing support and guidance.