Diet is the key for kids who are suffering from chronic kidney diseases. When your child’s kidney is damaged, it cannot filter blood the way it should. A proper dialysis patient’s diet can help in maintaining a healthy balance of minerals and salts in the body.
The healthcare team will work with you to create the right diet plan that includes foods and nutrients in the appropriate amount for the proper growth of your child.
Importance Of Knowing Calories Level
Food offers energy that your child needs to grow and be active. Kids with kidney diseases generally do not eat much because they do not feel hungry. But it is important that your child get an adequate amount of calories to fight infections and facilitate proper growth. The need for calories for children will continue to change based on age, weight, and height. The health care team will determine the daily calorie needs of your child as he or she gets older.
To make sure that your child is growing properly, the doctor will compare the weight and height against the growth chart. If the growth is not appropriate, the health care team can suggest adding more calories to the diet.
Importance Of Knowing Protein Level
Protein is imperative in a dialysis patient’s diet. When your child consumes protein, it generates waste that kidneys should remove from the blood. An excessive amount of protein can cause waste to accumulate in the blood. However, for a child who is suffering from chronic kidney disease, an inadequate amount of protein can prevent them from growing healthily and getting the right nutrients. So the health care professional makes sure that there is not only the right amount of protein in the diet.
Children who are on dialysis need to consume more protein because dialysis removes protein from the blood. And the amount of protein that the treatment removes depends on the type of dialysis treatment. As your child grows, his or her protein needs will also continue to change. Your kid’s dietitian can work with you and help your child adapt to the new meal plan.
The Importance Of Knowing Sodium Level
The need for sodium in children with chronic kidney conditions will vary based on their health. Too little sodium in some children with kidney disease can cause poor weight gain and dehydration. On the other hand, too much sodium in some children can result in high blood pressure. The diet of your children can help in controlling the amount of sodium in their diet.
Moreover, the amount of sodium your kid needs will be based on the type of kidney disease he or she is suffering from and how severe it is, and many other factors. The health care professional will either ask to limit the intake of sodium or add more of it to the diet.
If the dietitian suggests lowering the sodium amount in your diet, then you can do that by adding more fruits and vegetables, choosing low sodium or sodium-free products, using scratch, etc.
Importance Of Knowing Potassium Level
Some chronic kidney diseases fail to remove potassium from the blood, which can cause the level of potassium to be very high. Too much or too little potassium can lead to muscle and heart problems. Children suffering from kidney diseases must get their blood check regularly to ensure they have normal potassium levels.
And the kind of food and drink your children consume can significantly impact their level of potassium. Consult your child’s health care team with regards to the potassium needs of your child. If your child has a high level of potassium, then you should consider avoiding fruits and vegetables that have a high amount of potassium.
Importance Of Knowing Phosphorus Level
Phosphorus can accumulate in the blood of kids with chronic kidney disease. A high amount of phosphorus can weaken the bones of your child. It is naturally found in foods that are rich in protein. Phosphorus levels are also high in processed foods. It causes your kid’s blood level to go up and causes many issues. Your dietitian can work with you to include enough protein in your diet without increasing the level of phosphorus.
What About Vitamins And Minerals?
Children suffering from kidney diseases generally do not get enough vitamins and minerals because they have a restricted diet. Kids who are on dialysis may lose water-soluble vitamins during the treatment. Therefore, the doctor may prescribe vitamin and mineral supplements for children with kidney diseases. But make sure you never provide your kid with over-the-counter minerals and supplements, as they can be more harmful to your kids.
Kids who are suffering from kidney diseases have to pay special attention to their diet. The kind of food and drink they are consuming can impact their overall well-being. And their diet needs continue to change with their growing age.
