Dialysis Technology & Nutrition : Ensuring Adequate Nutrient Intake During Treatment.

Dialysis is a medical treatment that is used to filter waste products and excess fluids from the blood when the kidneys are not functioning properly. Dialysis can be performed using different technologies, including hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. The food you eat has a major role in your recovery process. Now that your kidneys are failing, your body has specific requirements. Hemodialysis involves the use of a machine to filter the blood outside of the body. The patient’s blood is pumped through a filter, called a dialyzer, and then returned to the body. When the protein in the foods you eat is broken down, a waste product called urea is produced. There may be too much urea in your blood because your kidneys can’t filter it out. Managing the urea level requires attention to both food and dialysis. Some water-soluble vitamins might be lost during dialysis. Vitamin and mineral supplements may be suggested if your diet is not providing enough of these nutrients. You should only consume