To help control diabetes, you need to keep your blood sugar at the right level. If you don’t, it can lead to other health issues, like kidney disease. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease¹ in the U.S. Taking medicine such as insulin or oral pills alone will not manage your blood sugar levels. That’s why it is important to eat a good diet.

Choosing certain foods and cooking methods can help control diabetes and improve kidney health.

Top 5 tips:

1. Make healthy choices:
   • High-quality proteins (such as eggs, meat, fish and chicken)
   • Whole grains (such as brown rice or oats)
   • Fruits and vegetables. Ask your doctor about potassium advice.
2. Eat less salty, fatty foods such as chips, salad dressings and butter.
3. Eat less carbohydrates (carbs), which turn into sugar when you digest them. For example:
• Avoid sugary foods like jelly, honey, candy and desserts.
• Limit starches such as white rice, pasta, cereal, and breads that are high carb.
4. Avoid fried food. Bake, broil, roast or grill foods instead.
5. Eat at regular times and do not skip meals.

You may have high blood pressure and not know it. If high blood pressure is not treated, it can damage your blood vessels including small ones in your kidneys. If the blood vessels in your kidneys are damaged, your kidneys can’t work as well.

To avoid this:

1. Regularly check your blood pressure with a doctor or nurse.
2. Maintain a healthy weight.
3. Do not smoke.
4. Exercise often. Even a short walk helps. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of exercise for you.
5. Limit salt and alcohol.
6. Take prescribed medicines as your doctor tells you to.

People with kidney disease often have a heart condition, too. A healthy diet is an important part of managing both health conditions, but foods that are good for one condition may not be good for the other.

Your VillageHealth care team can help you with:

• Tips for a diet that is good for your heart and kidneys.
• Recipes that are good for your health conditions.
• Help finding a local dietitian.

Diabetes and high blood pressure are the main health problems leading to kidney failure. But other common health problems can damage your kidney, too:

• Heart disease affects the heart and blood vessels. Symptoms:
• Chest pain
• Unsteady heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling
• Pain and numbness in arms and legs
• Congestive heart failure happens when the heart cannot pump enough blood. Symptoms:
• Shortness of breath
• Tiredness
• Swelling in ankles and legs
• Fluid build-up in lungs
• Lung disease includes several health problems that may come on slowly or suddenly:
• Asthma and emphysema (lung diseases that make breathing hard)
• Chronic bronchitis (swelling in lungs which causes a cough that won’t go away)
• Lung cancer
• Pulmonary arterial high blood pressure (high blood pressure in your lungs)

As kidney function gets worse, you may also have:

• Swelling in legs and feet
• Trouble breathing
• Feeling sick or tired
• Loss of appetite
• Too much or not enough urine
• Itchy skin

People can have different symptoms. If you feel any of these, talk with your doctor or your VillageHealth care team right away.