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You Are What You Eat!

2025-07-09T12:44:01-04:00July 8th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, eNews, Kidney Transplant, News & Events, Nutrition, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy|

Hypertension and diabetes are two known risk factors for chronic kidney disease. It is vital that all patients follow a renal diet whether on dialysis or transplanted. Sodium and potassium must always be monitored by obtaining the appropriate labs. It is also extremely important to consult with a nutritionist or dietitian to ensure that the proper diet is followed, especially if one is experiencing problems with hypertension and/or diabetes. Proper nutrition is a key factor in living your best life!  Of course, your nephrologist and/or general practitioner should always monitor your overall health concerns. We urge you to read this [...]

Preventing Infections in Hemodialysis

2025-06-11T10:54:18-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Lifestyle, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Dr. Anil Agarwal, Nephrologist Download PDF Article Descargar artículo en PDF For patients undergoing hemodialysis, infection prevention is not just a recommendation, it’s a necessity. Hemodialysis patients have a compromised immune system and face a heightened risk of infections, which can affect their lives in a multitude of ways. Many suffer from bloodstream infections, which can lead to hospitalization and even life-threatening complications like sepsis. Catheter-related infections and skin infections near the vascular access site, also quite common, can put patients in the hospital as well. Any of these infections can delay hemodialysis patients’ upcoming kidney [...]

The Importance of Immunizations for People with Kidney Disease

2025-05-07T13:28:03-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Immunizations, Kidney Transplant, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen|

Rebecca Schmidt, DO Jeffrey Silberzweig, MD Kristina Bryant, MD Written On Behalf of the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Community Vaccination Collaborative Introduction Living with kidney disease presents unique health challenges, including an increased susceptibility to infections. Immunizations play a crucial role in protecting people with kidney disease, including those on dialysis or with a kidney transplant, from preventable diseases. This article will discuss the importance of vaccines in general and those protecting against respiratory illness specifically, the risks associated with not being vaccinated, and concerns related to misinformation on vaccination decisions. [...]

Ask the Doctor May 2025

2025-05-07T13:27:31-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Medication, Nutrition, Physical Health, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen|

Velma Scantlebury, MD, DPC Education Center Health Care Consultant 1. What is the impact of phosphorus on kidney patients? For patients with kidney disease on dialysis, they are unable to remove excess phosphorus from the blood. This leads to high phosphorus levels, also known as hyperphosphatemia. Since dialysis does not remove phosphorus, it is important to limit foods high in phosphorus to avoid a build-up in various places in the body. Too much phosphorus results in the following: Bone and heart problems: Excess phosphorus causes your body to pull calcium out of your bones, making them weak and [...]

Do You Ask Questions?

2025-02-10T12:17:06-05:00February 10th, 2025|Categories: eNews, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, Treatment|

Whether you were just diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), on dialysis, or transplanted, it is important to ask providers questions about whatever it is that you do not understand about your healthcare. Remember, providers treat symptoms! If you do not tell them if something does not feel “normal”, it is more difficult for the provider to help solve the concern. Lab tests are crucial for all patients. The results help a provider to determine the progress of a patient’s overall health. At the same time, a patient should ASK QUESTIONS if not understanding when a provider reviews the results [...]

Exercise: A Resolution or a Commitment?

2025-01-08T11:43:50-05:00January 8th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, eNews, Lifestyle, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy|

Happy New Year! Happy New You! Many make new year resolutions that are difficult to keep or achieve. Let us make a commitment to exercise and eat nutritionally. Before beginning any changes in exercise and nutrition, please consult your physician! Exercise is important for so many reasons but do not think that you have to act like you are training for a marathon. Some of the best exercises can be done sitting in a chair! The following tips are retrieved from DaVita Kidney Care’s website (www.davita.com): Exercise for Dialysis Patients Many people on dialysis think they cannot exercise. The truth is, [...]

Diabetic Kidney Disease

2024-12-11T11:39:56-05:00December 11th, 2024|Categories: Dialysis, Early Intervention, eNews, Lifestyle, Physical Health, Staying Healthy, What Causes Kidney Disease|

The following information will focus on diabetic kidney disease and is taken from the National Institute of Health (www.niddk.nih.gov): What is diabetic kidney disease?  Diabetic kidney disease is a type of kidney disease caused by diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease. About 1 out of 3 adults with diabetes has kidney disease.1 The main job of the kidneys is to filter wastes and extra water out of your blood to make urine. Your kidneys also help control blood pressure and make hormones that your body needs to stay healthy. When your kidneys are damaged, they can’t filter blood like they should, which can cause wastes [...]

The Importance of Immunizations for People with Kidney Disease

2024-11-13T09:58:16-05:00November 4th, 2024|Categories: Dialysis, eNews, Hemodialysis, Home Hemodialysis, Immunizations, In-Center Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis, Physical Health, Staying Healthy|

Living with kidney disease presents unique health challenges, including an increased susceptibility to infections. Immunizations play a crucial role in protecting people with kidney disease, including those on dialysis or with a kidney transplant, from preventable diseases. This article will discuss the importance of vaccines in general and those protecting against respiratory illness specifically, the risks associated with not being vaccinated, and concerns related to misinformation on vaccination decisions.

My New Normal

2024-09-23T13:54:24-04:00September 23rd, 2024|Categories: Dialysis, Mental Health, Peritoneal Dialysis, Physical Health, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

By Karim Rattani, DPC Patient Ambassador My journey with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) has included much suffering, but it has also shaped me into a stronger, more loving man. Throughout all of it, I’ve adjusted to a “new normal” with ESRD and found that life can still be fulfilling and full of possibilities. I worked as a chauffeur and ran a public transportation Limousine service business just before the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Once the pandemic hit, most of the businesses were shutdown with an executive order and therefore I, like many others, also lost most [...]

Sometimes It’s a Blessing in Disguise

2024-09-23T13:54:22-04:00September 23rd, 2024|Categories: Dialysis, Hemodialysis, Home Hemodialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Peritoneal Dialysis, Physical Health, Quality of Life, The Kidney Citizen|

By Layce Ryan, DPC Patient Ambassador I remember when I first learned about my kidney disease. I was a college student living in Kalamazoo, Michigan, when I suddenly fell very ill. After running some tests, the doctors diagnosed me with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a type of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is the early stages of full kidney failure, also known as End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). In an instant, my life changed dramatically, and I was faced with the reality that the worst was yet to come. It would be 10 years before I began dialysis [...]

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