5 Foods to Avoid If You Have Kidney Disease or Diabetes

If you have kidney disease or diabetes, you should limit your intake of sugar and certain nutrients like sodium and potassium. Limit or avoid high-calorie foods such as processed meats, fruit juice, and potatoes.

Your kidneys are engaged in many facets of health, including blood filtering, waste removal, hormone production, bone strengthening, and fluid balance and blood pressure regulation.

A variety of causes and health problems, including diabetes, can increase your chances of developing kidney disease.

High blood sugar levels over an extended period of time can potentially harm your blood vessels, especially those in your kidneys. As a result, approximately one in every three persons with diabetes has renal disease.

Dietary advice for renal disease and diabetes vary depending on the stage of kidney disease, but generally involve watching your sugar, salt, potassium, and phosphorus intake.

People with kidney disease should additionally watch their protein intake since their kidneys may struggle to filter waste products from protein metabolism. People with end-stage kidney disease, on the other hand, may require extra protein.

Depending on your stage of renal illness, a healthcare expert and a trained dietitian can advise you on your unique protein and nutrient needs.

If you have kidney illness or diabetes, here are five foods to limit or avoid.

1. Potassium

Excess sodium in foods is bad for those with renal disease and diabetes because it strains the kidneys, causing high blood pressure and fluid buildup.

Drying, salting, curing, or smoking meats to improve flavor, texture, and shelf life results in processed meats such as bacon, sausage, and jerky.

Because these items are frequently salted, they have a high sodium level and should be avoided if you have kidney disease or diabetes.

High salt processed foods to avoid include instant noodles, frozen pizza, fast food, and frozen dinners.

2. Phosphorus

 Healthy kidneys can quickly eliminate excess phosphorus from your blood, but this is not the case with kidney disease.

High blood phosphorus levels over an extended period of time can increase your risk of heart disease, damage your bones, and increase your risk of death.

Phosphorus is used in dark-colored sodas to avoid discoloration, extend shelf life, and add flavor. They do, however, contain a different sort of phosphorus than is normally found in foods, and this type is more quickly absorbed into your blood.

Beans and lentils are likewise high in phosphorus, but if you prefer them, you can eat them in moderation.

Indeed, some research suggests that plant-based diets high in legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds may decrease the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Furthermore, phosphorus absorption varies depending on the food supply. Plant sources take just 40%-50% of phosphorus, but animal sources absorb up to 70%.

3. Sodium potassium

If you have kidney illness, your body cannot adequately eliminate potassium, which can result in elevated blood potassium levels. It can cause weariness, muscle weakness, heart difficulties, and even death if left untreated.

If you have kidney disease, your doctor may advise you to limit your intake of potassium-rich fruits such as bananas, avocados, apricots, kiwis, and oranges.

Many leafy green vegetables, such as spinach, chard, and beet greens, are high in potassium and should be consumed in moderation on a kidney-friendly diet.

Potatoes and sweet potatoes are also high in potassium. They can, however, be soaked or leached to dramatically lower their potassium content.

According to one study, soaking potatoes after cooking reduced their potassium content by up to 70%, resulting in potassium levels appropriate for patients with kidney disease.

4. Sugar that has been added

If you have kidney disease or diabetes, you should avoid drinking fruit juices and other sugar-sweetened beverages like soda.

These drinks are heavy in added sugar, which can induce blood sugar increases. This is concerning since diabetes interferes with your body’s capacity to effectively absorb sugar

High blood sugar levels over time can harm your nerves, further harm your kidneys, and increase your risk of heart disease.

Baked items, candies, cookies, and doughnuts are also high in added sugar.

5. alcoholic beverages

Large amounts of alcohol can have a deleterious impact on renal function.

Alcohol can also interact with certain diabetes drugs, raising the risk of complications such as low blood sugar.

As a result, if you have renal disease or diabetes, you should limit your alcohol use.

A healthcare practitioner can advise you on whether it is safe to incorporate alcohol in your diet plan and how much you can consume.

Foods to avoid if you have chronic kidney disease

If you have kidney disease and diabetes, many foods can fit into a healthy, well-rounded diet.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following foods and beverages for adults with renal disease and diabetes:

Vegetables include eggplants, turnips, cauliflower, and onions.

Fruits include apples, plums, berries, cherries, and grapes.

Protein sources include lean poultry and fish, eggs, and low salt shellfish.

Carbohydrates include pasta, sandwich buns, unsalted crackers, white bread, and bagels.

Water, unsweetened tea, and clear diet sodas

A doctor or nutritionist can also suggest nutritious items to include in your meal plan.

Commonly Asked Questions

What fruits should diabetics and persons with renal problems avoid?

 If you have renal disease, you may need to reduce your intake of potassium-rich fruits such as apricots, bananas, cantaloupes, and dates. Dried fruits are also high in potassium and carbs, which, if ingested in sufficient quantities, can raise blood sugar levels.

What is the finest bread to eat if you have renal illness or diabetes?

People with renal disease and diabetes should avoid whole grain breads since they are rich in phosphorus.

What aggravates kidney disease?

According to the National Kidney Foundation, eating a lot of sodium, sugar, and phosphorus might be bad for your kidneys. Physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, and inadequate water consumption can all be hazardous.

In conclusion

If you have kidney disease or diabetes, you should limit your intake of added sugar as well as specific nutrients such as salt, potassium, and phosphorus.

Your dietary limits for kidney disease and diabetes will be determined by the stage of renal disease you are in. Nonetheless, reducing certain foods can help you manage renal disease and lower the probability that it will deteriorate over time.