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Dialysis Care Center

March is National Nutrition Month ®

March 08, 2022

Mark your calendars as March is National Nutrition Monthâ! National Nutrition Monthâ is an annual campaign, created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, that highlights the importance of making informed nutrition decisions and developing healthy food and physical activity habits. The month also is key in celebrating dietitians as the most valuable source of evidence-based food and nutrition information.

In dialysis, dietitians are an especially important part of the interdisciplinary team. They work closely with nephrologists (doctors specializing in kidney disease), nurses, social workers, and dialysis technicians to provide individualized care for each patient.  Renal dietitians analyze protein and calorie intake, assess lab values, determine necessary vitamins and oral nutrition supplements, adjust bone medications, assess weight fluctuations, manage additional health conditions, and so much more! Each month, the dietitian sits down with each patient to create a nutrition plan together, addressing any areas for improvement and highlighting the areas in which the patient is doing great.

It is so important for dialysis patients to have a great relationship with their dietitian, having open lines of communication is crucial to receiving the best patient care. Be honest with your dietitian if you are struggling to navigate the renal diet or feeling overwhelmed with everything else going on in your life – they are here to help guide your nutrition decisions.

Use March and National Nutrition Monthâ as a time to reflect on your nutrition goals that you have set for the year. Have you been forgetting to take your binder? Been eating too much fast food recently? Noticing that aren’t monitoring fluid intake between treatments? Talk to your renal dietitian and come up with a plan to crush your nutrition goals!

Happy National Nutrition Monthâ! Take time to thank your amazing dietitian this month.

Author

Raag Shanker, RDN, LD

Renal Registered Dietitian

Raga

Author
Raag Shanker, RDN, LD
Renal Registered Dietitian

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