• Welcome to Northwest Renal Clinic
  • Providing comprehensive nephrology care
  • The largest nephrology practice in Oregon
  • Serving Patients throughout the Northwest
Welcome to Northwest Renal Clinic
Providing comprehensive nephrology care
The largest nephrology practice in Oregon
Serving Patients throughout the Northwest

Home Facts

Facts

Nephrology

Nephrology is the subspecialty of medicine concerned with disorders of the kidney and blood pressure. A Nephrologist is a physician who has been trained in the general specialty of internal medicine and then sub-specialized in the field of nephrology. Our practice of nephrology offers evaluation and treatment in adults for the following disorders:

  1. High blood pressure (Hypertension)
  2. All types of kidney diseases, including: 
    a. Blood in the urine (Hematuria)
    b. Protein in the urine (Proteinuria)
    c. Infection of the kidneys or bladder
    d. Nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys)
    e. Polycystic kidney disease
    f. Kidney stones
  3. Treatment of complete kidney failure, including:
    a. Hemodialysis
    b. Peritoneal dialysis
    c. Kidney transplantation
Patient Information

Nutrition and Chronic Kidney Disease

The kidneys perform many important jobs to keep the body healthy. These jobs include: getting rid of wastes and excess fluid, balancing fluids and certain chemicals in the body, removing drugs and toxins from the body and releasing important hormones that help make red blood cells, regulate blood pressure and keep the bones healthy. The goal of your treatment is to slow or prevent your kidney disease from getting worse. DIET is an important part of your treatment plan. In fact, your diet may change depending on how much kidney function you have. Making changes in the foods you eat may help slow further kidney damage. Certain nutrients such as protein, calories, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and fluid may need to be adjusted to meet your changing needs.

What Steps Can I Take To Make Changes In My Diet for Chronic Kidney Disease?

  1. Ask your doctor for a referral to our registered dietitian who specializes in diets for kidney patients
  2. Keep a food diary of what you eat daily and bring this with you when you see the dietitian
  3. Plan meals with your dietitian that provide the right amount of calories, protein, sodium, potassium and phosphorus, depending on your kidney function
  4. Read food labels in order to make appropriate calorie, protein and sodium choices
  5. Ask your dietitian for ideas on how to add extra calories if you are losing body weight too quickly in diets for kidney patients
  6. Ask your dietitian on ways to safely reduce calorie intake and increase physical activity if you are gaining too much weight
  7. Take only those supplements, vitamins, minerals and medications recommended by your doctor
  8. Making changes in the way you usually eat may seem overwhelming.
  9. Our dietitian can help you to plan meals to fit these special needs while still including many of your favorite foods.

 

Also be sure to download and review the dietary forms we have published on our website under the "Forms" tab