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Why Nutrition Matters in Chronic Kidney Disease

When living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), what you eat matters more than ever. 

The right nutrition helps protect your remaining kidney function, manages symptoms, and supports you in making the best out of your life at every stage of your condition.

Fresubin explains how malnutrition warning signs for those with CKD include eating less than usual, unintentional weight loss, feeling weaker or more tired, trouble finishing meals, and loss of appetite. If you notice these changes, talk to your healthcare team.

Eating Well at Every Stage

Fueling your body with better nutrition looks different depending on where you are in your journey. 

In earlier stages, the focus is on balancing energy and controlling certain foods like salt, potassium and phosphorus. If you move to dialysis, your protein needs increase to replace what treatment removes from your body and support against the increasing risk of Protein-Energy Wasting (PEW).

Fresubin explains how malnutrition risk increases with CKD: Protein-Energy Wasting (PEW) is a form of malnutrition characterized by loss of muscle and fat mass. PEW increases with CKD stage: around 2% in CKD stages 1-2, 11-46% in CKD stages 3-5 (non-dialysis), and 28-54% in maintenance haemodialysis

Your Care, Your Journey

Good nutrition is not a one-size-fits-all plan. Your care team will regularly review your diet, blood results, and how you are feeling to keep your plan working for you. 

Oral nutritional supplements may also be recommended when food alone is not enough to fuel your body and support your wellbeing. 

Fresubin explains practical steps to improve food intake: 1. Eat smaller, more frequent meals. 2. Discuss your kidney-friendly diet with your healthcare team. 3. Monitor weight, energy and appetite. 4. Ask about renal-specific nutritional supplements adapted for CKD with high energy and low volume.