Potassium and Chronic Kidney Disease

What is potassium and what does it do in the body?

Potassium is a mineral that controls nerve and muscle function. Theheart beats at a normal rhythm because of potassium. Potassium is also necessary for maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance and pH level.

In order for potassium to perform these functions, blood levels must be kept between 3.5 and 5.5 mEq/L. The kidneys help keep potassium at a normal level.

When is potassium too low or too high?

Low potassium

Potassium comes from the foods we eat. Healthy kidneys remove excess potassium in the urine to help maintain normal levels in the blood.

Because most foods have potassium, low potassium (hypokalemia) is uncommon in people who eat a healthy diet.

Some of the effects of low potassium include muscle weakness, cramping and fatigue.

High potassium

When kidneys fail they can no longer remove excess potassium, so the level builds up in the body. High potassium in the blood is called hyperkalemia, which may occur in people with advanced stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Some of the effects of high potassium are nausea, weakness, numbness and slow pulse.

For people with stage 5 CKD (also known as end stage renal disease or ESRD), dialysis is necessary to help regulate potassium. Between dialysis treatments, however, potassium levels rise and high-potassium foods must be limited.

Have your potassium levels checked regularly and ask your renal dietitian or doctor about your potassium results.

Potassium and Chronic Kidney Disease

What is potassium and what does it do in the body?

Potassium is a mineral that controls nerve and muscle function. Theheart beats at a normal rhythm because of potassium. Potassium is also necessary for maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance and pH level.

In order for potassium to perform these functions, blood levels must be kept between 3.5 and 5.5 mEq/L. The kidneys help keep potassium at a normal level.

When is potassium too low or too high?

Low potassium

Potassium comes from the foods we eat. Healthy kidneys remove excess potassium in the urine to help maintain normal levels in the blood.

Because most foods have potassium, low potassium (hypokalemia) is uncommon in people who eat a healthy diet.

Some of the effects of low potassium include muscle weakness, cramping and fatigue.

High potassium

When kidneys fail they can no longer remove excess potassium, so the level builds up in the body. High potassium in the blood is called hyperkalemia, which may occur in people with advanced stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Some of the effects of high potassium are nausea, weakness, numbness and slow pulse.

For people with stage 5 CKD (also known as end stage renal disease or ESRD), dialysis is necessary to help regulate potassium. Between dialysis treatments, however, potassium levels rise and high-potassium foods must be limited.

Have your potassium levels checked regularly and ask your renal dietitian or doctor about your potassium results.

Diabetes: Definition, Causes and Symptoms

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that affects your body’s ability to produce or use insulin. Insulin is a hormone. When your body turns the food you eat into energy (also called sugar or glucose), insulin is released to help transport this energy to the cells. Insulin acts as a “key.” Its chemical message tells the cell to open and receive glucose. If you produce little or no insulin, or are insulin resistant, too much sugar remains in your blood. Blood glucose levels are higher than normal for individuals with diabetes. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.

What is Type 1 diabetes?

When you are affected with Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas does not produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes is also called juvenile diabetes, since it is often diagnosed in children or teens. This type accounts for 5-10 percent of people with diabetes.

What is Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or when the cells are unable to use insulin properly, which is called insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes is commonly called “adult-onset diabetes” since it is diagnosed later in life, generally after the age of 45. 90-95 percent of people with diabetes have this type. In recent years Type 2 diabetes has been diagnosed in younger people, including children, more frequently than in the past.

Are there other forms of diabetes?

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and affects about 18 percent of all pregnancies, according to the American Diabetes Association. 

Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy, but once you've had gestational diabetes, your chances are higher that it will happen in future pregnancies. In some women pregnancy uncovers Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and these women will need to continue diabetes treatment after pregnancy. 

There seems to be a link between the tendency to have gestational diabetes and Type 2 diabetes, and many women who had gestational diabetes develop Type 2 diabetes later on. Gestational diabetes and Type 2 diabetes both involve insulin resistance. Certain basic lifestyle changes may help prevent diabetes after gestational diabetes.

Pre-diabetes is a condition that causes a person’s blood sugar levels to be higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association estimates that there are 41 million Americans that have pre-diabetes in addition to the 18.2 million with diabetes.

What causes diabetes?

The cause of diabetes is unknown. Genetics, diet, obesity and lack of exercise may play a role in developing diabetes, especially Type 2 diabetes.

How does diabetes affect my body?

Over time, high blood sugar levels (also called hyperglycemia) can lead to kidney disease, heart disease and blindness. The excess sugar in the bloodstream can damage the tiny blood vessels in your eyes and kidneys, and can harden or narrow your arteries.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

• Extreme thirst
• Frequent urination
• Blurry vision
• Extreme hunger
• Increased tiredness
• Unusual weight loss

How can I find out if I have diabetes? 

Sometimes a routine exam by an eye doctor or foot doctor will reveal diabetes. Diabetes affects the circulation to your feet and the tiny blood vessels in your eyes. If your eye doctor or your foot doctor suspects you have diabetes, he will recommend you see your regular physician for a blood sugar level test.

The most common test is a fasting blood glucose test. After not eating for at least eight hours, usually overnight, your doctor will take a blood sample. The normal, non-diabetic range for blood glucose is 70 to 110 mg/dl. If your level is over 140 mg/dl, you may have diabetes.

If I have signs of diabetes, what should I do?

See your doctor. Your doctor will perform tests to determine whether or not you have diabetes. If your blood sugar level is high, but not high enough to be considered diabetic, this is a condition called pre-diabetes. Your doctor will make recommendations to bring down your blood sugar level so that you can delay the development of Type 2 diabetes.

What Is Kidney Failure?

Kidney disease comes in five stages. Stage 5 (also known as end stage renal disease, or ESRD) is when kidneys function below 10 to 15 percent of their normal capacity. This essentially is known as kidney failure.

In most cases, kidney failure occurs after years of having chronic kidney disease (CKD). Less common is acute kidney failure, a sudden stop of kidney function. Whichever the case may be, it is vital that a person with kidney failure receives a kidney replacement treatment to stay alive.

You have options when it comes to treating kidney failure, the most common of which is dialysis. If you and your doctor find that a kidney transplant is the right treatment for you, you will still need dialysis while waiting for a matching kidney donor. DaVita® offers several dialysis choices that can suit your lifestyle:

• In-center hemodialysis
• Get treatments at a dialysis center from caring kidney care professionals and interact with other patients.
• Peritoneal dialysis (PD)
• Do shorter treatment cycles when you dialyze at home or work on this needle-free treatment.
• Home hemodialysis (HHD)
• Perform hemodialysis in the privacy of your own home, with a trained care partner to help you with treatments.
• In-center nocturnal hemodialysis
• Turn sleep time into dialysis treatment time when you stay overnight at the dialysis center.
• In-center self care hemodialysis
• Receive training from your kidney care team to become more hands-on when you get dialysis treatment at the center.

If you or someone you know is facing dialysis, learn more about which treatment option may best suits you and your lifestyle.

Polycystic Kidney Disease

What is polycystic kidney disease?

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is the number four cause of kidney failure in Americans, and an estimated 600,000 people in the United States currently have it. About half of the people diagnosed with PKD will experience end stage renal disease (ESRD) and will need dialysis or a kidney transplant. So what is PKD all about?

Typically, a kidney is about the size of a closed fist. But for those who inherit PKD, cysts that are filled with fluid form in the kidneys and can change their size, interfering with normal kidney function.

PKD is commonly believed to equally affect men and women of all races. However, some studies have shown that the disease may occur more often in Caucasians than in African-Americans and in females more often than males.

How does someone get polycystic kidney disease?

Polycystic kidney disease is hereditary and there are two forms of the disease that are passed down from a parent:

• Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is by far the most common form of PKD (90 percent of all cases) and runs in families. It is passed from parent to child, and the odds are 50/50 of a child inheriting it from an affected mother or father. About 10 percent of people with ADPKD have not inherited the disease from a parent, but have a gene that mutated, causing the disease.
• Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is rare and strikes infants, sometimes even before birth. It is also known as “infantile PKD” and affects about one out of every 10,000 people in the U.S. Both parents must be “carriers” of the ARPKD gene to pass it to a child, and each of their children has a one in four chance of getting the disease.

Good Sources of Protein for Dialysis Patients

Provided by DaVita® Dietitians

Dialysis treatments remove protein waste from your blood. A low-protein diet is no longer needed to control protein waste buildup because this is accomplished by dialysis. A higher protein intake is needed to replace protein lost during dialysis and to help keep you well nourished and healthy. Below are some foods that are good sources of protein when you’re on dialysis.

Poultry

• Chicken
• Cornish game hen
• Turkey

Red meat

• Beef
• Lamb
• Veal

Fresh pork

• Pork chop
• Pork roast

Seafood

• Clams
• Crab
• Lobster
• Scallops
• Shrimp

Eggs

• Egg whites
• Liquid egg substitute

Home Remedies to Reduce High Creatinine
Serum creatinine (a blood measurement) is an important indicator of renal health because it is an easily measured byproduct of muscle metabolism that is excreted unchanged by the kidneys. Creatinine itself is produced[2] via a biological system involvingcreatine, phosphocreatine (also known as creatine phosphate), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP, the body's immediate energy supply).
Creatine is synthesized primarily in the liver from the methylation of glycocyamine (guanidino acetate, synthesized in the kidneyfrom the amino acids arginine and glycine) by S-adenosyl methionine. It is then transported through blood to the other organs, muscle, and brain, where, through phosphorylation, it becomes the high-energy compound phosphocreatine.[3] Creatine conversion to phosphocreatine is catalyzed by creatine kinase; spontaneous formation of creatinine occurs during the reaction.[4]
Creatinine is removed from the blood chiefly by the kidneys, primarily by glomerular filtration, but also by proximal tubular secretion. Little or no tubular reabsorption of creatinine occurs. If the filtration in the kidney is deficient, creatinine blood levels rise. Therefore, creatinine levels in blood and urine may be used to calculate the creatinine clearance (CrCl), which correlates with the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Blood creatinine levels may also be used alone to calculate the estimated GFR (eGFR).
1. Chamomile Tea
A study published in the Journal of Agriculture Food Chemicals found decreased creatinine levels in study participants who drank chamomile tea. Plus, this herb will work as a mild sedative and induce relaxation.
Put two or three teaspoons of dried chamomile flowers in a cup of hot water.
Let it steep for three to five minutes.
Strain the tea and drink it.
Drink a few cups of chamomile tea daily.
2. Stinging Nettle
Stinging nettle can help remove metabolic wastes and promote renal excretion due to its diuretic properties. Plus, it purifies the blood and improves immunity.
Add two to three teaspoons of dried nettle leaves to a cup of hot water.
Let it steep for 10 minutes.
Strain and drink it.
Drink this nettle tea once or twice daily.
Note: This remedy can interfere with blood-thinning, high blood pressure, diuretic and diabetic medications. Consult your doctor before using this remedy.
3. Dandelion Root
Dandelion root tea also works as a natural diuretic to flush out toxins and lower creatinine levels. It also helps improve kidney function and relieve edema or swelling due to water retention.
Put one tablespoon of dried dandelion root powder in a cup of hot water.
Allow it to steep for about 10 minutes.
Strain and drink it.
Drink this tea two or three times daily for a few days or weeks.
Note: Dandelion may interact with diabetes and high blood pressure medications.
4. Cinnamon
Due to its diuretic properties, cinnamon is considered good for those suffering from high creatinine levels and kidney problems. It helps increase kidney output and promotes renal filtration ability. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels, thus preventing further renal damage.
Incorporate cinnamon in your diet by adding it to warm beverages, smoothies, baked goods, cereals and other foods.
Note: Do not take this herb in excess or it may lead to liver and kidney damage. Though there is no established dosage still, the generally recommendation is one-half to one teaspoon of cinnamon a day.
5. Siberian Ginseng
Siberian ginseng containing eleutheroside compounds is mostly used as a health supplement for its energy-boosting properties. It is also an effective remedy to get rid of excess creatinine because it revitalizes the kidneys and promotes renal circulation. Plus, you’ll get its anti-fatigue and anti-stress benefits.
The general recommended dosage for this herb is 300 to 600 mg per day. For proper dosage and suitability for your condition, consult your doctor. It can also be taken with cinnamon.
Note: Do not confuse Siberian ginseng with other types of ginseng, especially Asian ginseng which has an anti-diuretic effect. Seek your doctor’s advice before taking Siberian ginseng because it may interfere with many prescription drugs.
6. Astragalus
Astragalus is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that helps slow the progression of chronic kidney disease. It works as a mild diuretic and helps improve creatinine levels. It contains a diuretic compound called asparagine that helps eliminate fluid through the kidneys. This herb also strengthens metabolism and digestion.
Boil a handful of dried astragalus root slices in one quart of water for 30 minutes.
Strain and drink the tea.
Drink this daily between meals.