PKD Life - Summer 2020 - 6

EATING WELL

Balancing Act
Learn how to follow a
PKD diet when you have
another chronic condition.
By Lisa Fields

heart disease, or diabeI ftesyouandhavearehypertension,
diagnosed with PKD, you may be con-

fused about the right way to blend your new dietary
guidelines with your existing eating plan.

"That's the No. 1 concern of
patients when they meet with
me," says Rachael Majorowicz, R.D.N., a registered dietitian at the Mayo Clinic. "They
will often say, 'I'm on a diabetes diet. I'm on a heart disease
diet. Now you want me to be
on a renal diet?'" Majorowicz
says. She then explains that
those diets are not as different as we think, especially
now that new guidelines are
coming out.

PKD DIET

Historically, people with latestage PKD were told to restrict

6

PKD LIFE * SUMMER 2020

the potassium and phosphorus in their diets, which
limited the amount of fruits,
vegetables, whole grains,
and dairy products that they
could eat. When they had to
combine these limits with a
heart-conscious or diabetesfriendly eating plan, there
were conflicts.
"[For] diabetes, [they're
told]: Moderate your carbohydrates, but definitely choose
whole grains; vegetables are
your free foods-eat all sorts
of vegetables; fruits are good
for you," Majorowicz says.
"On top of that, if they are on

LEFT TO RIGHT: GARDIE DESIGN/UNSPLASH,
LEKSII TERPUGOV/ ALAMY STOCK PHOTO.

Most people wit h
PKD can safely
eat greens and
whole grains.
PKD Life - Summer 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of PKD Life - Summer 2020
