Diet with haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis

People receiving haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis often need to make dietary changes. You may be asked to eat more protein, reduce salt or to drink a specific amount of fluid. You may also be asked to reduce potassium or phosphate foods.  You should see talk to your dietitian if you have been asked to make these changes. 

What should I do if I don't feel hungry? 

Eating well is important to help you feel better and cope with any treatment you may need, many people find the following can help them to eat more:

• Use full cream milk to drink, with cereals and in cooking and choose full-fat foods when possible.
• Add extra butter, margarine or oil to bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, noodles, rotis and cooked vegetables or extra cheese to dishes such as pizza, pasta, vegetables. You could add mayonnaise or salad cream to sandwiches and jacket potato fillings and salads.
• Use peanut butter, chocolate spread, honey, jam, marmalade on bread, crackers or biscuits.
• Include high energy snacks and puddings such as cake with custard/cream, rice pudding, hummus and breadsticks, cheese and crackers, crumpets with butter, scone with cream and jam and have high energy fluids such as milkshakes, hot chocolate, smoothies and milk. 

Discuss with a dietitian if you are not able to follow any of the suggestions above or have also been asked to follow a low potassium or low phosphate diet. They can give you advice to suit your needs. They may be able to request a prescription of an energy supplement drink as an alternative. 

Diet after a kidney transplant

Diet after a kidney transplant is life changing. It offers a lot more freedom and usually you no longer need to think about how much protein you're eating or reduce potassium and phosphate in your diet. A no added salt diet is still recommended in most cases.

There will be some new dietary changes. These are mostly related to the new medications you will be given.

These medications can:

• increase hunger, which can cause weight gain
• sometimes cause high blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels
• reduce your immune system making you more vulnerable to food poisoning
• react with some foods such as grapefruit which should be avoided
• weaken bones and so it is important you eat a diet rich in calcium

Your dietitian will give you lots of information on all these things when you have your transplant.