Living with kidney disease can make eating feel confusing. You may see and hear different advice about potassium, phosphorus, protein, sodium or fluids. You may also notice that diet recommendations change over time. You are not expected to figure this out on your own!

Kidney dietitians are part of your care team. They work with you at every stage of your care—whether you are in the hospital, attending clinic visits, receiving dialysis in a city, home community or completing home dialysis.

Why Nutrition Matters in Kidney Disease

Healthy eating for kidney disease can help you:

• Manage your symptoms
• Keep your nutrition related bloodwork in a safe range
• Maintain strength and energy
• Support your overall health life goals

A registered dietitian specializing in kidney health can support you in creating a nutrition plan tailored to your specific needs.

How Registered Dietitians Support You

Kidney dietitians focus on practical, everyday support. They can help you:

• Understand your lab results and what they mean for your nutrition plan
• Make sense of nutrition information you see online and provide you with up-to-date information and/or resources
• Find ways to enjoy your favourite foods safely
• Plan meals and snacks that fit your culture, budget, and lifestyle
• Break big goals into small, manageable steps

There is no “one-size-fits-all” kidney diet. Your plan is based on you!

Where You May Meet a Registered Dietitian

In Hospital

If you are admitted to Health Sciences Centre, Seven Oaks Hospital, St. Boniface Hospital or another hospital within Manitoba, a dietitian may see you during your stay.

Dietitians can help:

• Assess your nutrition and appetite
• Adjust your nutrition plan based on your lab results
• Support healing and recovery
• Make sure you are getting enough nutrition to handle or prevent malnutrition
• Provide you with education with up-to-date evidence-based information

In Outpatient Kidney Clinics

As you follow up with your kidney team, a dietitian may be part of your clinic visits.

Dietitians can help:

• Answer questions like “What can I eat?”
• Provide recommendations based on your bloodwork and medications
• Support you as your kidney needs change over time
• Create realistic, personalized meals and snack ideas

In In-Centre Hemodialysis Units (Winnipeg, Brandon, Rural and Remote Community Sites) or Home Hemodialysis

If you are on dialysis at a centre or at home, your nutrition plan is personalized.

Dietitians in dialysis units help with:

• Creating and supporting personalized nutrition plans for you
• Eating enough protein
• Managing phosphorus, potassium, sodium and fluid
• Supporting appetite and weight
• Providing up-to-date education on dialysis diet
• Helping you feel your best between treatments

Support that Continues Over Time

Kidney disease evolves, and so can your nutrition requirements.

Dietitians work with you across different stages and settings—from hospital to clinic to home—so you have ongoing support along the way. You are not starting over each time you see someone new.

You Are Not Alone

Managing kidney disease is a team effort. Your kidney dietitian is here to help make eating easier, clearer, and more manageable. We work with you and your other care providers to create a plan that works for you.

If you have questions about your diet, ask your dietitian or ask your care team to connect you with one.