Diabetes and kidney diesease

[Bad_Robot]

A friend who has Diabetes II was now diagnosed with kidney disease. Whether of not the kidney disease is caused by the diabetes the doctor could not determine. Until my friend gets to see a dietitian he should eat a very low-salt, low-protein diet, but it should be calorie-rich. He should stick with good oils and fat. For the past two weeks he hasn't been eating enough and complains now of feeling weak and even faint.

I have looked into what kinds of food should work for him, but I too have problems finding suitable foods. For example, I thought avocados may be a good choice due to their quality fat and because they are high in calories. However, avocados are listed as a food to be avoided by diabetics with kidney issues. He isn't even supposed to eat something like multigrain bread, and of course he has to limit simple carb foods severely.

The doctor told him to eat about 3,000 kcal per day. How is the guy supposed to get enough calories with the things he may eat? Does anybody have a suggestion what foods he needs to combine? I wouldn't ask this here, but my friend won't be seeing the dietitian until for another 10 days.

 

[PaulC]

Allow me to empathize for you and your friend. Diabetes along with kidney disease is a very serious health issue that a person typically will battle for years and possibly their whole life.

I had an uncle who was born with kidney disease and as a result had T2 diabetes along with it. He is no longer with us, but allow me to give you hope by telling you that be lived 39 long years until his death.

If there is a piece of advice I highly recommend, I would say follow your doctor's orders to every single detail. When to eat, when to take medication, etc. I cannot stress it enough that your doctor or diet recommendation is something your friend should strictly obey.

I strongly suggest your friend to push his doctor to put him on insulin as opposed to metformin or other orally taken medicine. I don't think I need to explain in detail why pills pushed by companies onto general practice doctors to prescribe to their patients are bad for your long term health.

Also, I have concern with your friend feeling weak and faint. Sounds like he has a blood pressure problem on top of a combination of his blood sugar being out of control.

The diet for diabetics usually calls for the person to eat smaller meals with healthy snacks between. Bread of the whole wheat variety is the only bread type he should be consuming.

If he continues to feel faint along with dizziness and unable to stand for moderate periods of time, I suggest going to the hospital cause something is very wrong.

Ok, hope this helps. Goodluck.

 

[Bad_Robot]

Thanks for the feedback. I may have made my friend's condition seem more grave that it is. His kidney issue is new. His doctor has not prescribed any medication for the kidney condition, but has simply given some basic advice regarding the diet, and he also told him to drink more. He also has sent him to a dietitian. My friend does have high blood pressure, for which takes medication. His diabetes is under control without medication.

The problem is that the diet advice the doctor gave results in not eating enough calories. The feeling week and faint is due to low blood sugar, and my friend has to eat something every two hours. He just can't eat enough. He can stand and walk and function just fine, he just gets very suddenly tired when his blood sugar levels crash.

 

[hate2work]

He can talk directly to a dietician over the phone or by e-mail the same day he contacts them, many such services offered using a google search. You might offer to pay for it for him, it appears to be about $100 or so, probably money well spent in this case.

Good luck to him

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Type II diabetes is serious. Hopefully, your friend can push it away with diet and exercise. Becoming dependent on meds can lead to multiple problems down the road even though meds may eventually be the only option. Insulin and blood sugar levels are a tough act to balance.

My sister in law was a juvenile diabetic. She had heart bypass surgery at 34, had her leg amputated above her knee at 40, was put on dialysis at 41 and had a heart attack and died as we sat down to Thanksgiving Dinner at the age of 44.

Although she was an inspiration, I wouldn't wish her ordeal on anyone.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Guys, there are a LOT of helpful alternative medicine things for diabetes.

Cinnamon, mulberry, and gymnema sylvestre (?) have reduced or eliminated a ton of folks need for meds, and even eliminated the problem entirely.

 

[Bad_Robot]

Thanks all, but I really was asking only for advice regarding foods that will allow sufficiently high caloric intake without exceeding limits set for carbs, fat, and protein until he sees the dietitian. My question is about how to prevent undereating and not about medical treatment advice.

 

[Shannow]

Pizza, beer and Coke seem to be the faves of the Type 2 diabetics at the range.

FIL was diagnosed (diabetese only) last year, and was put on a protein low carb and exercise regime. Eggs at breakfast, 125grammes of tuna at lunch, 125 grammes of beef/chicken/fish at dinner, and other protein "snacks" every 2 hours in between (half a boiled egg and some crackers, nuts, etc.) lots of salads/veges, and little fruit.

He was on weight loss as well, so I don't think it added up to 3,000 cals.

 

[Bad_Robot]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
Pizza, beer and Coke seem to be the faves of the Type 2 diabetics at the range.

FIL was diagnosed (diabetese only) last year, and was put on a protein low carb and exercise regime. Eggs at breakfast, 125grammes of tuna at lunch, 125 grammes of beef/chicken/fish at dinner, and other protein "snacks" every 2 hours in between (half a boiled egg and some crackers, nuts, etc.) lots of salads/veges, and little fruit.

He was on weight loss as well, so I don't think it added up to 3,000 cals.


The guy hasn't eaten a home-cooked meal in 25 years. He ate out three times a day until two weeks ago. Now he doesn't know what to eat. His wife doesn't cook, Chef Boyardee cooked for him, he doesn't know how to make a sandwich, or maybe he's too lazy. He has been driving a desk for 30 years and is in the saddest physical shape. He reminds me of the old adage, "If you don't have your health, you have nothing."

Anyway, since the doc put him on a low carb, low protein (he needs 75g but is allowed only 45 per day), low sodium diet, I'm really out of food suggestions. I guess he'll have to rough it until he gets to see the dietitian.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Look up the Glycemic Index. It's used by many diabetics to successfully manage their disease.

 

[Bad_Robot]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Look up the Glycemic Index. It's used by many diabetics to successfully manage their disease.


Are you on purpose giving unasked advice, or haven't you understood my question?

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: Bad_Robot
Thanks all, but I really was asking only for advice regarding foods that will allow sufficiently high caloric intake without exceeding limits set for carbs, fat, and protein until he sees the dietitian. My question is about how to prevent undereating and not about medical treatment advice.


I answered your question exactly as asked. Perhaps you should re-read your own post?

 

[hate2work]

Originally Posted By: Bad_Robot
I guess he'll have to rough it until he gets to see the dietitian.


Not true at all. As I mentioned earlier, he can get a phone consult the same day with a qualified dietician, no need for him to wait 10 more days.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: Bad_Robot
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Look up the Glycemic Index. It's used by many diabetics to successfully manage their disease.


Are you on purpose giving unasked advice, or haven't you understood my question?



The predicament your friend is in is just as much about getting his diet on track (as per the Dr and your post) as it is about getting ON TOP OF and STAYING ON TOP OF his diabetes.

I've noticed there are often two types of diabetics... Those of whom the disease runs their lives and those of who run their own lives... The latter of the two have taken charge of their lives and almost never can you really tell. The former, I can often spot a mile away...

What I'm getting at, is he needs to do more than the Dr & dietician say to do. It is an excellent start though. The glycemic index, the alternative medicines (as along as they don't negatively interact with existing prescriptions) are all things this guy needs to look into. He CANNOT be reliant solely on the Dr. I've known of people who thought it was the Dr's job to fix them... Guess how well they're livin????

Lastly, I do agree that he should be able to get some sort of over the phone consult - very soon.

 

[Bad_Robot]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: Bad_Robot
Thanks all, but I really was asking only for advice regarding foods that will allow sufficiently high caloric intake without exceeding limits set for carbs, fat, and protein until he sees the dietitian. My question is about how to prevent undereating and not about medical treatment advice.


I answered your question exactly as asked. Perhaps you should re-read your own post?


I now realize you did not understand my question. That's okay then!

I did not ask for advise regarding diabetes management.

 

[Bad_Robot]

Originally Posted By: hate2work
Originally Posted By: Bad_Robot
I guess he'll have to rough it until he gets to see the dietitian.


Not true at all. As I mentioned earlier, he can get a phone consult the same day with a qualified dietician, no need for him to wait 10 more days.


Sure he "can," but what he can and what he does are not the same thing, and it has nothing to do what I am asking. I can't force him to make such a call. What I thought I could find out was what food with sufficiently high caloric content a diabetic with kidney disease should eat. All I wanted is advice for the time until he gets to talk to the dietitian. Why is that concept so difficult to accept?

 

[Bad_Robot]

Originally Posted By: The_Eric
Originally Posted By: Bad_Robot
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Look up the Glycemic Index. It's used by many diabetics to successfully manage their disease.


Are you on purpose giving unasked advice, or haven't you understood my question?



The predicament your friend is in is just as much about getting his diet on track (as per the Dr and your post) as it is about getting ON TOP OF and STAYING ON TOP OF his diabetes.

I've noticed there are often two types of diabetics... Those of whom the disease runs their lives and those of who run their own lives... The latter of the two have taken charge of their lives and almost never can you really tell. The former, I can often spot a mile away...

What I'm getting at, is he needs to do more than the Dr & dietician say to do. It is an excellent start though. The glycemic index, the alternative medicines (as along as they don't negatively interact with existing prescriptions) are all things this guy needs to look into. He CANNOT be reliant solely on the Dr. I've known of people who thought it was the Dr's job to fix them... Guess how well they're livin????

Lastly, I do agree that he should be able to get some sort of over the phone consult - very soon.


You are going way beyond what I asked. I now regret ever asking my question in the first place, and I am exiting this thread. You may now commence giving layman's medical advice in peace.

 

[greenaccord02]

What about starches? A baked potato, for instance, with limited trimmings might be good. Very easy to cook, and even wendy's has a decent baked potato offering.

I'm no dietician.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: Bad_Robot
What I thought I could find out was what food with sufficiently high caloric content a diabetic with kidney disease should eat.


And as stated previously that is EXACTLY what I gave you. Simply look up any of the zillions of Glycemic Index sites on the Net and pick foods from there!

Man, that was easy?

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
What about starches? A baked potato, for instance, with limited trimmings might be good. Very easy to cook, and even wendy's has a decent baked potato offering.

I'm no dietician.


I had a baked potato today at Wendy's..It was very good.