Comprehensive treatment and management of kidney disease and high blood pressure are impossible without a complete team of professionals. At Durham Nephrology, our staff remains dedicated to each part of the process, ensuring we can answer your specific needs. One of the pivotal pieces of this process is a dietician who understands the importance of a patient’s diet. Aparna Veeramachaneni is our dietician, eager to help patients learn more about the effects of diet on their CKD and high blood pressure. Find out more about Aparna and the characteristics of a successful diet plan below!
Meet Dietitian Aparna Veeramachaneni
How long have you worked as a dietician?
I have worked for more than 15 years since my start in the field in 2006. Now, I am working as a Dietician at Durham Nephrology.
What made you want to work in the field?
I had close family members I lost over the years due to chronic illnesses that could have been resolved with proper nutrition and education. With this experience, I dedicated myself to helping others find the opportunities to heal in a way my family members did not.
What are my main interests?
I work with most chronic illnesses. However, my passion is mostly with renal patients struggling with CKD, chronic kidney disease. With the experience of watching family members struggle with these conditions, it is a great way for me to get to help people going through similar situations. This allows me to see changes and progress in the patients that come to Durham Nephrology to seek treatment for this condition.
What responsibilities does a dietician have for CKD patients?
There are many responsibilities that a dietician must consider for their CKD patients. The first of these is education on electrolyte management. You must also pay attention to fluid intake, maintaining adequate kcal, taking in appropriate amounts of protein and fiber, and better control of blood sugar. There is also a responsibility to improve their GFR, lower blood pressure, improve HgbA1c levels, and help the patient lose weight with the proper diet and education.
What is the ideal diet plan for patients?
For the most part, the ideal diet plan stems from the considerations taken in the answer above. Alongside those, we look at labs, review the diet, do diet recalls, and look at the overall picture. All this happens while helping them with the conditions and problems that CKD presents. They are all important things to consider.
What foods should patients with CKD avoid?
While this is an essential factor to consider, there are not many foods to avoid for our patients. The only exception is for star fruit in CKD stage 5 dialysis patients. There are studies showing harmful toxic effects on patients with kidney disease, so it is better to aim the side of caution and avoid the fruit in their diets.
Even with there not being many foods to avoid, I teach my patients how to eat foods in moderation, have a balanced diet, and manage electrolytes with proper nutrition. It is less about the type of food and the way you consume it. These changes could make a world of difference in their treatment plan and progress.
Contact Durham Nephrology
Learning about the ideal diet for CKD patients is a step on your journey. With the help of our dietician Aparna Veeramachaneni, Durham Nephrology can ensure that we meet your nutritional needs through your partnership with us. Real progress can stem from alterations to your diet. Looking to learn more about what these changes can do for you? Check out our website or give us a call at (919) 477-3005 for more information.
