Food For Thought
Home Dialysis Patients follow a much more Rigid Diet?
At-home dialysis improves outcomes.
With longer or more frequent treatments, people who choose at-home dialysis usually have fewer food restrictions and take fewer medicines.
Not only are they healthier overall—they live longer !
The cheaper option for home dialysis
WHAT IS PD
Patients with central venous catheters (CVCs) cannot do HHD
Many patients with CVCs may perform HHD, although it is advised to only use them temporarily due to the higher risk of infection with CVCs vs. atrioventricular fistulas (AVFs) or grafts (AVGs).
Home Hemodialysis Dialysis Requires Water Testing and Color-Blind Testing.
Your water will be tested and analyzed at no cost to you.
You will take a quick, easy test to see if you are color-blind. You will state the number that you see and trace patterns of colors.
Peritoneal dialysis
Name 2 foods that are low in phosphorus.
Apples, cornflakes, chicken, pineapple, grapes, hamburger, fish, strawberries
Takes 30 days for Medicaid/Medicare to take effect
WHAT IS IN-CENTER TREATMENT
Are patients who have Diabetes Mellitus candidates for Peritoneal Dialysis?
Patients with Diabetes Mellitus ARE candidates for Peritoneal Dialysis!
For persons with diabetes, the doctor may need to adjust the dose of insulin. The sugar in the dialysis fluid may make the blood sugar levels higher. The PD nurses, the doctor and dietician will work to keep levels in appropriate range.
Aren’t patients that choose Peritoneal Dialysis at great risk for infection?
While it is true that there is a risk for peritonitis, many people on PD never have an infection!
Following procedures as taught greatly reduces the risk of infection. Most infections that occur can be treated with antibiotics and without hospitalization.
HHD
Home hemodialysis
Name 2 foods high in protein that are appropriate for Renal Diet.
Chicken, red meat, fish, turkey, eggs
“I heard you can’t do Home Dialysis if you have Medicare”
You absolutely can do Home Dialysis with Medicare Insurance Coverage. At times coverage will be facility specific. Grab a Team Member and inquire today!
An in-center licensed station where in-center treatments are provided to deliver a patient-centric approach to gently ease a patient into dialysis.
WHAT IS A TRANSITIONAL CARE UNIT (TCU)
I can’t keep my pets if I do Home Dialysis…
FALSE
You can do Home Dialysis and KEEP your pets!!
Pets must be outside of any room when Home treatment occurs, and frequent handwashing as taught by your Home Team will reduce the chance of infection.
CCPD
Continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis
Name 2 foods high in potassium.
Oranges, banana, tomatoes, orange juice, potatoes.
Home Hemodialysis Dialysis Requires Costly Home Modifications to the Plumbing and Electrical Systems.
Sometimes modifications are needed to properly and safely operate your dialysis equipment. If needed, Fresenius will help with off setting some of these costs.
If you are not a Homeowner, your nurse can help you speak with your Landlord regarding any needed modifications.
The home dialysis option you could look into if your patient meets the following qualifications:
Has a history of intradialytic hypotension
has severe cramping during treatment, is unable to achieve fluid removal at <13 ml per minute
has uncontrolled hyperkalemia or is unable to control blood pressure with medication
is anuric
has matured AV access that is easy to cannulate
WHAT IS HOME HEMODIALYSIS (HHD)
When you do PD, you cannot go swimming.
It all depends where you are swimming. Swimming in a lake, pond, river, ocean, or non-chlorinated pool would not be OK because it increases the risk of infection. Generally, swimming in a chlorinated pool could be OK. Always check with your healthcare team first.
CAPD
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
When you dialyze at home, you can eat and drink whatever you want.
Dietary and fluid intake limitations remain in place, but you may have a bit more flexibility with your limits and choices. Always check with your medical team when changing your renal diet.
Your dialysis clinic will provide the machine if you need one for home use, as well as the supplies.
The home dialysis option you could look into if your patient meets the following qualifications:
Has been on Dialysis less than one year
has residual kidney function
has difficulty managing fluid intake
has difficulty with phosphorus control
has issues with cannulation/access
WHAT IS PERITONEAL DAILYSIS (PD)
Patients with central venous catheters (CVCs) cannot do HHD.
Many patients with CVCs may perform HHD, although it is advised to only use them temporarily due to the higher risk of infection with CVCs vs. atrioventricular fistulas (AVFs) or grafts (AVGs).
PET
Peritoneal equilibration test