RE Peritoneal dialysis

(Gill Callaghan) #1

I had a kidney transplant in Sept 2016. I’m lucky enough to live in Australia. I initially started on dialysis in April 2016, standard dextrose and starch solutions. After three months, I noticed my triglycerides had tripled. ( I’m pre diabetic, after researching alternate solutions I changed to a protein based solution and an over night starch solutions). An incidental blood test three days later, showed that my trigs were back to my normal. In the USA insurance does not pay for protein solution. I lost 20 kg to get on transplant list, with keto and IF. I lost a further 2kg on dialysis, after solution change. I thought I would post in response to your latest podcast, this is my personal experience.

(John Collyer) #2

Interesting. I have gained weight on peritoneal dialysis and my blood glucose levels have increased from the lower to the higher end of the normal range. Triglycerides are not routinely tested in my health region in the UK. I had not known that there were protein dialysis fluids available. More questions to ask my nephrologist!

(vij) #3

I’d really appreciate if someone can post resources or comment/advice on a good diet for someone that is on Peritoneal dialysis

(John Collyer) #4

As far as I can remember, I continued to eat a LCHF diet of real food with intermittent fasting (mostly 16:8 with one or two 24 hour fasts each week) during peritoneal dialysis. I saw a renal dietician and I took note of her comments about restricting potassium intake when necessary but I ignored her insistence on eating more carbohydrate. She knew this. I always kept my healthcare professionals fully informed about my diet and they could see that it worked for me but I couldn’t persuade them to consider offering similar advice to selected patients.

I was unexpectedly called into hospital for a kidney transplant two days after my January 10 post and I continued with LCHF/IF which seems to be working well. One of the immuno-suppressant drugs can raise blood glucose, and it did, but tightening up the carbohydrate restriction has brought it back down. As well as carbohydrate intolerance varying from person to person it can also vary for an individual when circumstances change.,

For example:

  • My breakfast is just a cup of tea.
  • Lunch can be a salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, celery, radish) with ham or sardines or salmon or tuna or boiled eggs or something similar. In colder weather I often have a home made soup instead. Dessert is usually berries and cream. If I’m fasting for 24 hours I usually skip lunch.
  • Dinner is usually fresh meat or fish cooked in the oven or fried in natural fats like butter or lard and served with seasonal fresh vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, asparagus. Berries and cream for dessert again.
    This is what works well for me. Other variations may suit you better. The important thing is to avoid highly processed foods and eat real food. Keep your doctors and dieticians informed in case there are any specific restrictions for your personal medical history. I have had problems agreeing treatment with some doctors so I have found others who will listen to my questions and tailor advice accordingly.

From:
vij