News & Events
Discover new information and educational offerings that we provide. Explore our newsletters, blogs and upcoming webinars/conference calls.
Contents:
Smell Loss and Kidney Disease
Our sense of smell is not only used to appreciate new blooms in Spring and the aroma of a great meal but is essential when we taste our food as well. Recently, researchers have found those with advanced kidney disease may experience a loss of smell. While the cause is unknown, researchers are looking for ways to improve the sense of smell in kidney disease patients in order to decrease rates of malnutrition. When your sense of smell is reduced, your ability to taste food is also reduced. This could lead to food aversion and eating less. As a kidney disease patient, eating less will quickly lead to malnourishment which is one of the leading [...]
The Waiting Game: How to Endure the Transplant Wait List
By Kirsten Weir If you are on the organ transplant waiting list (or hoping to be listed soon), you have probably experienced all kinds of emotions: Excitement, nervousness, anxiety, fear, joy, guilt. Maybe all in one day! The average time spent on the waiting list for a kidney varies from region to region. But for most patients, that wait is measured in years, not months. As the years go by, some people go about their daily lives and forget they are waiting for a life-changing call. Others feel mounting anxiety and hopelessness. All of those feelings are completely normal, says Heather Ambroson, PsyD a psychologist and postdoctoral fellow at University of North Carolina Transplant Clinic. [...]
Next Education Call: Relationships and Kidney Disease
Join us Tuesday, September 19 at 1:00 PM Eastern to discuss relationships and Kidney Disease. A companion call to our previous presentation on "Intimacy and Kidney Disease" two patients will discuss how dialysis has changed relationships in their lives. They will offer their perspective on handling different types of relationships while being a dialysis patient. We hope you can join us for this important topic. Watch the Recording:
Remembering Christina Esposito
Dialysis Patient Citizens and the DPC Education Center are saddened to learn of the passing of board member Christina Esposito, 37. Christina was a tremendous advocate for ESRD patients across the country and especially in her home state of New York. She had four kidney transplants over the course of her young life which lasted a total of approximately nine years. For about another twenty-five years prior to, sometimes during, and post failed kidney transplants she dialyzed. Christina experienced and mastered every modality ranging from in hospital Peritoneal Dialysis (PD), to Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) at home, to Hemodialysis in hospital and then in center, to Home Conventional Dialysis, to Nocturnal Hemodialysis, to Self-Care [...]
The Kidney Citizen Issue 6
Get tips on going gluten free on dialysis, read more about the importance of charitable assistance and how to cope with waiting on the transplant list.
Summertime S’mores
Nothing is more iconic of summertime and family time then s’mores. "But," you say, "s’mores have…shhhh [whisper] chocolate." No worries here though! Chocolate never shows up on the “Do Have” renal diet list, due to its high phos content. A classic s’more with two graham crackers, 1/2 bar chocolate, and one large marshmallow has 97 mg phosphorus, 128 mg potassium, and 151 mg sodium. This does not mean that s’mores are out though. Non-chocolate s’mores are fancy, trendy, and super yummy. We experimented with 3 different non-chocolate s’more variations to keep the dietary phosphorus at bay: Butterscotch Chip S'more, Lemon Curd S'More and Cookie Butter S'more. Butterscotch Chip S'mores Cookie Butter [...]
Researchers Think They’ve Found the Cause of Organ Rejection
Receiving a kidney transplant is the preferred treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, wait times to receive a transplant can be long, and the cost of medication to maintain the transplant is very high. Transplanted organs typically last around 10 years, if taken care of well. However, researchers at the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute at the University of Pittsburgh may have found the answer to prevent organ rejection. Fadi Lakkis, the scientific director at the transplantation institute, believed ideally, an organ transplant would last the rest of the patient’s life. Not only this, but the drugs that suppress the immune system, which are necessary to keep the transplant healthy, increase the risk of [...]
Pressed Vegetarian Picnic Sandwich
Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 40 mins Serves: 4 SERVINGS Ingredients Sandwich 2-9" French baquettes 1 cup green beans, trimmed ½ c roasted red pepper, sliced (can by packed in vinegar or make your own in oven) 1 medium eggplant, sliced into disks 1 Tbsp low sodium black olives (~5) 3 eggs, hard boiled and sliced Tapenade (can also use store bought tapenade) 1 Tbsp calamata olives (~ 5) 1 Tbsp black olives, low sodium 1 Tbsp green olives, low sodium if available Vinaigrette ¼ c Olive Oil 1 Tbsp Fresh Parsley, coarsely chopped 1 Tbsp Fresh Basil 1½ tsp Shallots, coarsely chopped ½ tsp Sugar ½ tsp Dijon Mustard [...]
DASH Diet Linked to Lower Risk of Gout
Gout is caused by an accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints and other tissues. Over time, these crystals can lead to painful attacks of gout, typically beginning in the big toe. The relationship between gout and kidney disease is two-fold, those with gout are 83% more likely to have kidney disease and those who have kidney disease are more likely to suffer from gout. Since the kidneys typically process uric acid, those with decreased kidney function will have a more difficult time eliminating excess uric acid. Typical treatment of gout includes taking uric acid-lowering medications, however many of these medications may be harmful to the kidneys. Because of this, those with decreased kidney [...]
A Tomato Free Cinco de Mayo!
What is Cinco de Mayo without a little bit of chips and salsa? “But, I can’t have tomatoes!” you say. And that is where this magnificent creation comes in, because you "can have" chips and salsa even without tomatoes! This wonderful low potassium recipe will make you forget that tomatoes ever existed in pico de gallo. This recipe is sans-tomatoes. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Even better, it is low in sodium! It pulls its flavor from fresh lime juice and cilantro and little bit of crunch from some fresh jicama. Paired with a low sodium corn chip you don't even notice the tomatoes aren't there, nor will you miss them. RED PEPPER PICO DE GALLO Author: [...]
Next Education Seminar: Depression and Kidney Disease
Life with a chronic illness can be a bumpy road with many hurdles to navigate along the way. Emotional ups and downs due to stress are common among people undergoing dialysis treatments. If you find yourself experiencing issues of depression, anxiety, fear and anger, you are having a normal reaction to stressful circumstances. And you are not alone in this. Yet, despite being surrounded by other people, a sense of isolation may arise. There are ways to address these normal feelings. This webinar will present some guidelines for coping with the array of emotions common to life with dialysis and chronic illness. You also will learn positive ways to manage the stress associated with a [...]
Additional Factors Play Part in Kidney Transplant Success
The process of receiving a kidney transplant is rooted in finding a compatible donor, whether living or deceased. Compatibility is determined by both blood type and the matching of Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA). HLA’s are what stimulate the production of antibodies, which are produced by the immune system in response to a foreign body. HLA make-up is inherited from your parents, which typically makes immediate family members the best match for donation. However, it is possible for individuals to develop sensitivities to HLA antigens because of pregnancies, blood transfusions or viral/bacterial infections. These sensitivities are also tested to determine overall compatibility of the donation. What other factors can determine transplant success? A recent study suggests [...]
National Minority Health Month
There are many aspects that impact your overall health and wellbeing. Genetic factors and lifestyle choices are among the most common determinants of your health. Given this, why are certain populations more susceptible to certain conditions than others? What other factors are at play to impact minority populations more than Caucasian populations? National Minority Health Month seeks to answer these questions while raising awareness of the widespread health disparities among populations. National Minority Health Month is an initiative of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH). This year, the theme is “Bridging Health Equity Across Communities” in an effort to spread awareness about the social determinants of health—environmental, social and economic conditions. [...]
