Living with Kidney Disease

Diet & Exercise

Eating well and staying active are essential to a healthy fulfilling life. It is critically important for patients to maintain a healthy diet and exercise schedule to boost your general wellness.

Talk to your doctor about a kidney-friendly diet. Dietary needs and restrictions are unique to your specific condition and the function of your kidneys.

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Choices for food and exercise can make all the difference in maintaining a healthy lifestyle while on dialysis. Talk to your doctor about what makes sense for you.

Eating well and staying active are essential to a healthy fulfilling life. It is critically important for patients to maintain a healthy diet and exercise schedule to boost your general wellness.

Talk to your doctor about a kidney-friendly diet.   Dietary needs and restrictions are unique to your specific condition and the function of your kidneys.

man smiling while pouring his wife some tea while in the kitchen

Moderation: Most foods are fine to eat as long as you don’t consume too much of any given one.

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Modification: Lab results can provide individualized guidelines for your diet that change as your needs change, showing which vitamins and minerals you lack and which you have in excess. U.S. Renal Care dietitians can help.

Physical Activity

Talk With Your Doctor

Depending on your health, your physician may recommend specific exercises or tailor a program to your needs. Have a conversation prior to starting a new exercise routine.

Stretch Your Muscles

It is important to stretch each time before you exercise. This helps warm up your muscles and circulate blood throughout your body. Even if you don’t have time for cardiovascular exercise on a given day, stretching is a great way to treat your body right.

20+ Minutes of Exercise

Exercise several days per week for at least 20 minutes. If that seems like too much, don’t be afraid to start slow and build up to more over time. Exercising often prevents injury, promotes blood flow and builds strength to support your overall health.

Enjoy Yourself

Choose activities you look forward to. Swimming and biking are fun activities that are also low-impact on your joints. But hobbies such as walking with friends and/or pets, and even gardening can provide great exercise for dialysis patients.

Strength Training

A few sets of low- weight repetitions several times per week will increase muscle and reduce fat. Strength training lessens your risk of injury and promotes mobility - all important for individuals undergoing dialysis.

Be Consistent

Regular exercise improves your health and well-being. With consistency you can have more energy, fight off illness and disease, and allow more flexibility in your diet with improved blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It can also reduce the risk of injury from falls.

Living with Kidney Disease

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Living Well

U.S. Renal Care is committed to helping our patients continue to live well with treatment options, resources for families and caretakers, and more.

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Family and Caregivers

We understand that an ESRD diagnosis doesn’t just affect patients—it affects everyone involved with their care.