Skip to content
My WebMD Sign In, Sign Up

Announcements

Have you had a kidney transplant or are waiting for one? Then visit the Organ Transplant Community and the Diabetes and Kidney Community to share your experiences with other community members!

Are you newly diagnosed? Use the WebMD search engine to read articles like Understanding Kidney Disease.
Last Reply:
Newly Diagnoised
avatar
elaine0616 posted:
Hello, I am 60 years old, I have had diabetes since 1986 and high blood pressure since 2000. I was recently diagnoised with stage 3 kidney disease. I don't know where to begin, I have been reading so much in regard to diet and meds and such. But where do I start?????
2 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Newly DiagnoisedHello, I am 60 years old, I have had diabetes since 1986 and high blood pressure since 2000. I was recently diagnoised with stage 3 kidney disease. I don't know where to begin, I have been reading so much in regard to diet and meds and such. But where do I start?????
Reply
 
avatar
John-SKPT responded:
Probably the best place to begin is with a nephrologist; even if you don't need to see this specialist regulary right now, it's a great idea to get a baseline evaluation so that the progression of the kidneys can be monitored and minimized.

My experience has been that a lot of general practitioners, even endocrinologists, etc, tend to make referrals to a nephrologist quite late in the course of things. And there are a bunch of clinical studies that correlate early nephrologist referral to better long term outcomes.

As for diet, there aren't many specific changes that make sense for every patient; diet will need to be evaluated on the basis of your blood test values, and it will need to be tweaked periodically as time goes by. No two patients are exactly alike, so no single diet works for everybody. The possible exception to that statement is that heart-healthy is kidney-friendly: chronic renal disease is essentially vascular in origin, so keeping arteries and the heart in shape are good ideas overall.

One other generality that almost always applies is to knock off over the counter NSAID pain relievers; naproxen, ibuprofen, etc are nephrotoxic. An occasional tylenol probably won't hurt a lot, but taking ibuprofen several times a day, every day is just asking for trouble.
Report This| Share this:Newly DiagnoisedProbably the best place to begin is with a nephrologist; even if you don't need to see this specialist regulary right now, it's a great idea to get a baseline evaluation so that the progression of the kidneys can be monitored and minimized.<br /><br />My experience has been that a lot of general practitioners, even endocrinologists, etc, tend to make referrals to a nephrologist quite late in the course of things. And there are a bunch of clinical studies that correlate early nephrologist referral to better long term outcomes.<br /><br />As for diet, there aren't many specific changes that make sense for every patient; diet will need to be evaluated on the basis of your blood test values, and it will need to be tweaked periodically as time goes by. No two patients are exactly alike, so no single diet works for everybody. The possible exception to that statement is that heart-healthy is kidney-friendly: chronic renal disease is essentially vascular in origin, so keeping arteries and the heart in shape are good ideas overall.<br /><br />One other generality that almost always applies is to knock off over the counter NSAID pain relievers; naproxen, ibuprofen, etc are nephrotoxic. An occasional tylenol probably won't hurt a lot, but taking ibuprofen several times a day, every day is just asking for trouble.
Reply
 
avatar
elaine0616 replied to John-SKPT's response:
Thanks for the input. My PCP has already sent me to a nephrologist, he's the one that diagnoised me. I guess I will learn exactly what steps I need to take in the coming weeks as I have several tests and doctor appointments to keep.
nannnieof26
Report This| Share this:Newly DiagnoisedThanks for the input. My PCP has already sent me to a nephrologist, he's the one that diagnoised me. I guess I will learn exactly what steps I need to take in the coming weeks as I have several tests and doctor appointments to keep.
Reply


Back to Top
Back to Top

Spotlight: Member Stories

Profile
Fariedae
I am 32, soon 33 I have suffered with PKD and a cystic liver for over 10 years. I have what Doctors call a 'mutated form of PKD and Liver Disease&...More
See All Posts by Fariedae

More Members

Profile
jennsewcute2000
Edit your story | See All Members

Popular Discussions

Start a Discussion | See All

Helpful Tips

contrast dye and polycystic kidney disease
Please do not have a CT scan with contrast dye if you have polycystic kidney disease. It is harmful and you can land up in the hospital ... More
Was this Helpful?
Yes No
22 of 33 found this helpful
Post a Tip | See All

Helpful Resources

Post a Resource | See All

Related News

Report Problems to the
Food and Drug Administration

FDAYou are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.