New Year’s Resolutions for Patients Who Have Chronic Kidney Disease

1. Provided Courtesy of RD411.com Where health care professionals go for information New Year’s Resolutions for Patients Who Have Chronic Kidney Disease Contributed by Emily Workman, RD Review Date 5/10 R-0587

2. Follow Your Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Diet • Know that everyone needs to limit salt in the diet • Throw away the salt shaker: • Use salt-free seasoning blends, such as Mrs. Dash® or Benson’s® • Add other seasonings, spices, and herbs, such as garlic or onion • Use fewer salty foods: • Choose unsalted crackers, popcorn, or pretzels

3. Follow Your CKD Diet (cont’d) • Avoid processed foods: • Hot dogs • Sausage • Bacon • Packaged luncheon meats • Canned soups • Canned vegetables • Microwave dinners • Boxed dinners, such as Hamburger Helper® or Rice-a-Roni®

4. Follow Your CKD Diet (cont’d) • Talk with your dietitian or doctor about limiting potassium and phosphorus in your diet

5. Get Moving • Exercise is beneficial for everyone • Regular exercise can: • Lower blood pressure • Decrease heart disease risks • Improve energy and mood • Help with digestion • Improve blood sugar control • Control weight • Strengthen muscles and bones • Lower stress • Help you sleep better

6. Get Moving (cont’d) • Start slowly: • Always check with your doctor before starting an exercise program • Always stretch before and after exercise • Make realistic goals: • Choose goals that are reachable and doable • Build from there

7. Get Moving (cont’d) • Schedule exercise as you would your other appointments: • Make it a priority—you are the priority in your life • Remember that making small changes now can increase both the quantity and quality of your life • Ask for help: • See if a friend or family member can help you or exercise with you • Get encouragement from others to keep you motivated and on track • Have more fun by exercising with others

8. Get Moving (cont’d) • Include a variety of activities in your exercise routine: • Remember that many activities count as exercise • Consider walking, bicycling, dancing, water aerobics, exercise videos, stretching, chair exercises

9. Stop Smoking • Smoking: • Is especially dangerous for patients with CKD • Harms the kidneys, contributing to the progress of kidney disease • Affects blood pressure • Increases stress on the heart • Can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, heart attack, and/or stroke

10. Learn More About Kidney Disease and Dialysis • Resources for information: • National Kidney Foundation: www.kidney.org • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov • National Kidney Disease Education Program: http://nkdep.nih.gov • DaVita, Inc: www.davita.com

11. Have a Diabetes Checkup • The more you control your diabetes, the better your kidneys will function • If you have diabetes, the American Diabetes Association suggests that you visit you doctor two to four times a year, and more often if you are on insulin

12. Have a Diabetes Checkup (cont’d) • If you are not working with your primary care doctor or a nephrologist to manage your diabetes, you should see an endocrinologist (a doctor who is more specialized in treating diabetes) • The three important keys to improving diabetes control: • Medication • Diet • Exercise

13. Review Your Medications • Review your medications with your doctor, including: • Prescription medications • Over-the-counter medications • Herbal, vitamin, and mineral supplements • Discuss: • What you are taking • How you are feeling • How your body is responding to the medicines, based on your lab results

14. Review Your Medications (cont’d) • Help your doctor determine if: • You are taking the right medicines • There are medicines you no longer need to take