Dietitians educate people to select foods that will help them achieve and maintain health. They help clients manage medical conditions through diet and exercise as nutritional management is an indispensable option to help reduce the risk of long term complications in kidney disease and renal replacement therapy.
Food and fluid management are an important part of a nephrology patient’s treatment and patients are encouraged to see a dietitian at least once every six months as a dietitian helps patients to control the level of potassium and phosphate in the blood, prevent fluid overload and assess patient diets to prevent protein malnutrition, which is common in dialysis patients.
Dietitians can ensure that the following conditions can be minimised and controlled:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Early satiety
- Onset and the progression of cardiovascular disease
- Reduced tolerance to glucose
- Steroid induced diabetes and hyperlipidaemia
- Weight gain