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Renal Diabetic Diet: What to Eat for Both Diet Plans (+ Free Meal Plan PDF)

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It can be challenging enough to follow a renal diet or diabetic diet, but a renal diabetic diet? It can be so confusing with all the things to avoid with diabetes and kidney disease. One diet may recommend a certain food while the other says you can’t have it… what’s a person to do? In this article, we will discuss both renal diet and diabetic diet, as well as how they overlap to provide many nutritious foods to choose from. We will cover foods to include that help both chronic kidney disease and diabetes. Sign up to get our free renal diabetic diet meal plan to see how it can all come together.

According to the CDC, one in every three American adults with diabetes also has chronic kidney disease.

That is tens of thousands of people, all of whom are now dealing with not one but two challenging diseases.

Each of these diets has its guidelines, restrictions, and recommendations in regard to diet and lifestyle.

However, implementing a renal diabetic diet doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. It’s about understanding both conditions and the dietary options needed to manage them.

About Kidney Disease & Diabetes

Starting a renal diabetic diet begins with understanding chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and how these two conditions can be related.

Diabetes

There are two main types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2.

In type 1 diabetes, the body doesn’t produce insulin as it should. The sugar goes into the bloodstream, but not the cells.

This can lead to dangerously low and high blood sugar levels.

People with type 1 diabetes use prescription insulin to help their bodies use the carbs they need.

With type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t respond well to insulin in the body. This can lead to high blood sugar and other potential complications.

People with type 2 diabetes are often prescribed oral medication and insulin to help use the carbs they need.

There is also a type 3 diabetes related to Alzheimer’s Disease. This type has features of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Early Signs of Kidney Damage

There are many signs that can occur for those with diabetes that may indicate kidney damage.

Signs that a person with diabetes may experience include;

  • Swelling at the ankles and feet
  • Unexplained weight gain
  • Higher blood pressure
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Protein leaking in urine
  • Unexplained hypoglycemia (low blood sugars)
  • Lower insulin or oral diabetic medication doses
  • More frequent urination (more nightly bathroom trips)

Your doctor is likely already monitoring your kidney health if you have diabetes. However, it’s important to address it no matter how controlled your diabetes is.

You may be wondering why lower amounts of diabetes medications would be a sign. This is because the kidneys filter the medication.

When kidney damage is present, the kidneys filter less things out of the body.

Therefore, diabetes medicine stays in the body longer and continues to work longer. So, less frequent doses or lower doses may be prescribed by your doctor.

Always discuss medication adjustments with your doctor.

Late Signs of Kidney Damage

If the kidney disease has progressed to late stages (like stage 4 or stage 5), other symptoms a person can experience include;

  • General weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Anemia
  • Itching
  • Muscle cramps

One of the biggest indicators that you and your doctor can track is protein leaking in the urine. This is a sign that the kidneys are damaged.

The Diabetic Diet

For people with diabetes, the main priority is to track carbohydrates in their diet.

The amount of carbohydrates a person needs depends on factors such as age, gender, physical activity, and other health conditions.

A serving of carbohydrates equals 15 grams of carbohydrates. Foods that have carbs include;

  • Bread and bread products
  • Pasta
  • Rice
  • Cereal
  • Fruits and fruit juices
  • Starchy vegetables like potatoes, peas, and corn
  • Beans and legumes
  • Dairy and dairy products like yogurt and cheese
  • Sugar and sugary foods and beverages

Many believe that a diabetic diet should be avoiding carbs. However, it’s actually important to include them in a diabetic diet.

In fact, The American Diabetes Association encourages many of these healthy carbohydrates.

By including more frequent, small meals, many with diabetes find better control of blood sugar spikes and dips.

Other factors in the diabetic diet include looking at fat and protein intake as well as micronutrients such as fiber, chromium, and magnesium.

Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease occurs when your kidneys are no longer able to filter as they should.

There are different stages of CKD, with early stages and later stages differing based on how much your kidneys can filter waste.

The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) measures the estimated kidney filtration. Different eGFR levels correspond to the different stages of CKD.

Stage of CKDeGFR Range (mL/min/1.73m2)
Stage 1>90 with kidney damage present
Stage 260 – 89
Stage 3a45 – 59
Stage 3b30 – 44
Stage 415 – 29
Stage 5<15

Kidney function is also dependent on other factors such as age, genetics, and physical activity level.

The Renal Diet

A diet for chronic kidney disease is known as the renal diet. There are many different types of renal diets besides the diabetic renal diet. 

Some examples include:

Some may need to follow multiple diet goals, like both a low protein and low potassium diet.

This is what makes working with a dietitian so helpful. A dietitian will guide you through these multiple diet changes to help make sense of it all.

However, we will discuss more details in this article (written by a renal dietitian!) to help get you started.

Foods to Eat in a Renal Diabetic Diet

While most diets that are beneficial for diabetes are great for the general public, like focusing on lean meats and vegetables, these diets may not be right for someone with CKD.

That’s because they don’t tend to take into account things like the amount of phosphorus or potassium in the diet. They also may not account for sodium.

On a renal diabetic diet, there are more things to consider than with a general diet for diabetes.

That can include proteins, fats, and nutrients like potassium, sodium, and phosphorus.

Before we start with what to be careful with, let’s start with all the foods to enjoy on a renal diabetic diet.

Complex Carbohydrates

As mentioned above, carbohydrates are extremely important and beneficial for a renal diabetic diet. Whole grains are excellent carb sources.

The main complex carbohydrate sources are found in;

  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Whole Grains
  • Beans
  • Nuts & Seeds

Fiber helps to manage blood sugar as high fiber foods cause a much lesser insulin response than does glucose.

In general, those with diabetes and/or kidney disease should aim for 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day.

Fiber is also a prebiotic.

Prebiotics help with good digestion. Prebiotics feed the good bacteria in your gut and promote a healthy microbiome.

A healthy renal diabetic diet swap could be switching from white bread to wheat bread. White bread is a simple carbohydrate. It provides a quick energy source and can increase blood sugar if eaten alone. Wheat bread, on the other hand, is a complex carb. The nutrients give long-lasting energy and the fiber content helps to balance potassium levels.

Examples of complex carbohydrates include;

  • Whole wheat bread and bread products
  • Whole grain pasta
  • Brown and wild rice
  • Beans
  • Legumes
  • Potatoes
  • Oatmeal
  • Quinoa
  • Amaranth
  • Teff
  • Barley

By making the majority of your carbohydrate choices from complex carbohydrates, you will automatically be supporting blood sugar control and giving your kidneys healthy energy sources.

What about potassium in carbs?

It’s true that many carb sources contain potassium. As mentioned, complex carbohydrates also contain fiber.

Besides the kidneys, our gut is also responsible for potassium balance. Therefore, eating enough fiber helps with a healthy gut and can help further balance potassium.

Research also shows that potassium from plants is less absorbed and therefore less associated with the potassium levels you will see on your blood test results.

Lean and Plant Proteins

Protein is the building block of our muscles. However, protein recommendations vary greatly depending on the stage of kidney disease and overall kidney function.

It’s really important to concentrate on a special diet for kidneys and diabetes when you have both of these conditions.

Lean Protein Examples

Protein is found in both animal and plant-based foods.

Examples of kidney-friendly protein sources from animals include;

  • Lean beef
  • Turkey
  • Chicken breast
  • Tuna
  • Salmon
  • Low-fat cottage cheese
  • Low-fat yogurt

Beware of pre-made roasted chicken as they often contain more sodium and phosphorus.

Examples of kidney-friendly plant-based protein sources include;

  • Tofu
  • Lentils
  • Tempeh
  • Seitan
  • Edamame
  • Nuts & nut butter

Although beans also provide plant-based protein, they are considered a carbohydrate due to their higher carbohydrate content.

However, beans and legumes also include fiber, making them an excellent complex carbohydrate choice.

Research also suggests a vegetarian or vegan diet that focuses on plant-based proteins, increased fiber, and plenty of vegetables can help control blood sugars in type 2 diabetes.

As with all processed protein options and food choices, be sure to limit sodium in these foods and all foods you choose.

We will discuss more about protein later in the article. Some cases of a renal diabetic diet may include a low-protein diet.

Healthy Fats

Fats often get a bad name, but fats are essential for our body to function properly.

Not only do they help to insulate our bodies, but they are also necessary for the formation of hormones and help to create healthy cells. 

It’s also important to manage the type and amount of fat you’re consuming as part of a renal diabetic diet.

Some fats can be beneficial, such as unsaturated fats. Others, like saturated fats or trans fats, can lead to increases in blood pressure.

High blood pressure is a dangerous condition for anyone, but especially for people with diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

Types of Healthy Fats

Fats are organized into a few different categories, including saturated and unsaturated fats.

Saturated fats are solid at room temperature. They are in foods such as whole milk dairy, cheese, and baked goods. These are considered less healthy and will be discussed later in this article.

Unsaturated fats, on the other hand, are liquid at room temperature and come from vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fish. These are considered healthy fats.

Unsaturated fats are organized into two groups. There are monounsaturated fats like avocados and olive oil. There are also polyunsaturated fats, found in fatty fish, walnuts, flax seeds, and sunflower oils.

Both of these types of fats are also considered healthy.

In fact, research has shown that adding some healthy fats like nuts into a diabetic diet may support blood sugar control.

Examples of kidney-healthy fats include olive oil, walnuts, avocado oil, hemp hearts, pecans, and sesame oil.

Polyunsaturated fats are essential because our bodies can’t make them. Therefore we need to get them from our diets. 

Two types of polyunsaturated fats, omega-3, and omega-6 fats are important for managing high cholesterol. High cholesterol is linked to diabetes and high blood pressure.

Polyunsaturated fats may decrease LDL cholesterol and help reduce blood pressure (omega-3) and protect against heart disease (omega-6). Some people even benefit from an omega-3 supplement.

Potassium

Potassium is not restricted in a diabetic diet. However, those on a renal diabetic diet should understand potassium.

This is because the kidneys may not be able to process the potassium in food as well with kidney disease present.

Therefore, limiting potassium intake is important for managing the disease.

When to Limit Potassium

When instructed by your physician, people with chronic kidney disease with high potassium levels (known as hyperkalemia) may need to limit potassium.

In these situations, it’s generally recommended to stick to approximately 3,000 milligrams of potassium per day.

Those with end-stage renal failure with high potassium levels may need to limit to 2,000 mg and 3,000 mg potassium per day.

Common sources of potassium include:

  • Dairy
  • Nuts
  • Seeds
  • Beans
  • Legumes
  • Fruits
  • Vegetables

All of these are great foods to include in your overall healthy diet in a way that fits your potassium needs. 

Restricting potassium in a renal diabetic diet needs to be from your doctor or dietitian. But know that restricting doesn’t necessarily mean eliminating foods you enjoy. 

All of these foods with potassium, including fruits and vegetables, are still an option on a low potassium diet.

Understanding the factors that affect your potassium is also important when choosing the right foods for you.

Additionally, one of the causes of high potassium levels in the blood is uncontrolled blood sugars.

So getting your blood sugars under control can help reduce your potassium levels – without changing how much potassium you eat.

Ask your doctor about your blood sugars and how they may impact your potassium levels.

Table of Foods to Eat in a Renal Diabetic Diet

Below is a table of the different food groups to include in a renal diabetic diet.

Food GroupExamples of Foods
Fruits (low potassium)Apples, Applesauce, Apricots, Blueberries, Cherries, Cranberries, Fruit Cocktail, Grapes, Lemon, Lime, Mandarin Orange, Pear, Pineapple, Plum, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Strawberries, Tangerine, Watermelon
Fruits (high potassium)Avocados, Bananas, Cantaloupe, Dried Fruit, Fruit Juices (Orange, Tomato, Prune, Apricot, Grapefruit), Grapefruit, Honeydew, Nectarines, Oranges, Papaya, Peaches, Pomegranate
Vegetables (low potassium)Asparagus, Arugula, Bamboo Shoots, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Collard Greens, Cucumber, Eggplant, Green Beans, Kale, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Onion, Peas, Peppers, Radicchio, Red Cabbage, Scallions, Spinach (fresh) Summer Squash (like zucchini and yellow squash), Tomatillo, Water Chestnuts, White Mushrooms
Vegetables (high potassium)Artichoke, Beet Greens, Beets, Bak Choi, Kohlrabi, Mushrooms (cooked), Okra, Parsnips, Potato, Pumpkin, Rutabagas, Spinach (cooked), Winter Squash (butternut), Swiss Chard, Tomato
Whole GrainsWhole grain pasta, Brown rice, Barley, Quinoa, Millet, Couscous, Amaranth, Wild rice, Whole wheat bread, bagels, and buns, Oats, Quinoa, Farro, Freekeh, Sorghum, Tapioca, Millet, Barley, Bulgur, Kamut, Durum, Buckwheat, Teff, Arrowroot, Wheat berries
Lean Animal ProteinsChicken breast, Turkey, Lean beef, Cottage Cheese, Eggs, Tuna, Salmon, Yogurt
Plant ProteinsTofu, Tempeh, Edamame, Seitan, Lentils, Soy Milk
Healthy FatsOlive oil, Avocado oil, Flaxseed, Flaxseed oil, Sunflower oil, Safflower oil, Fatty fish like salmon and tuna, Walnuts oil, Nuts and nut butters
DrinksApple juice, Coconut milk, Coffee, Cranberry juice, Ginger ale, Grape juice, Lemonade, Oat milk, Pineapple juice, Rice milk, Brewed Tea
These are examples of what to include in a renal diet. Everyone’s preferences and needs are different, so your table may look a little different.

Foods to Limit on a Renal Diabetic Diet

While a renal diabetic diet offers a lot of great options when it comes to food choices, some things should be limited or eliminated.

Sugar

Sugar can be tough to limit because it is often well hidden. Understanding sugars can make limiting and choosing the right foods a bit easier.

The general recommendation for sugar is 6 teaspoons (25 grams) per day for women and 9 teaspoons per day (36 grams) for men.

Types of Sugar

Simple sugars are just that – sugars that are easy for our bodies to break down.

These are found in foods such as white bread, white pasta, pastries, fruit juice, soda, or candy, which are known as refined carbohydrates.

These simple sugars have been linked to type 2 diabetes and should be limited as they are lacking in nutrients and fiber.

That doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy some candy every now and then, though!

Fructose is another type of sugar, found in fruit. While fructose is still sugar, it is often found alongside fiber because it’s in fruit. Fiber helps manage blood sugar.

For people managing their sugar, fruit can be a great option for something sweet. 

Non-nutritive sweeteners are sugar substitutes that provide a sweet taste without increasing blood glucose or insulin concentrations.

There are eight non-nutritive sweeteners currently approved by the FDA. Those include:

  • Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K)
  • Advantame 
  • Aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal, Sugar Twin)
  • Neotame (Newtame)
  • Saccharin (Sweet and Low, Necta Sweet)
  • Luo Han Guo Fruit Extracts (Nectresse, Monk Fruit)
  • Steviol glycosides (Stevia, Truvia, PureVia)
  • Sucralose (Splenda)

When consumed in moderation, these sweeteners can fit into a renal diabetic diet.

Ace-K has 10 milligrams of potassium per table-side packet, which is negligible when consumed in moderation.

Sugar alcohols are another group of sweeteners that are found in a diabetic diet. Examples of sugar alcohols include:

  • Sorbitol
  • Mannitol
  • Erythritol
  • Xylitol
  • D-tagatose
  • Isolmalt
  • Maltitol
  • Lactitol

These types of substitutes provide approximately half the amount of calories compared to regular sugar.

However, excessive use can cause diarrhea and GI upset.

Unhealthy Fats

While some fats are beneficial for our health, others are not. Saturated fats and trans fats are two types of fats that should be avoided in a renal diabetic diet. 

Saturated fats are found in foods like red meat, whole milk, butter, and lard. These fats raise blood cholesterol and may not be beneficial for heart health.

Trans fats are fats that are created or found naturally in the diet. Created trans fats are found in commercially processed snacks and baked goods.

Examples of natural trans fats include animal meats and products like dairy.

Artificial trans fats are created to preserve foods as well as change taste and textures. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated trans fats are no longer considered Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for humans.

Because of this, it’s unlikely you’ll find trans fats in most packaged foods.

As people with CKD are at an increased risk of heart attack or stroke, it’s ideal to opt for heart-healthy fats like monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats instead.

Phosphorus Additives

Phosphorus is a mineral found in foods and our body. It pairs with calcium to help form our bones. 

Organic phosphorus is found in food naturally. Examples of organic phosphorus can include chicken, fish, eggs, lentils, beans, and nuts.

Inorganic phosphorus is a preservative found in processed food. These phosphate additives can increase the levels of phosphorus in your blood. Too much phosphorus is dangerous, especially for kidney patients.

Phosphorus additives are listed on ingredient labels. Examples include

  • Dicalcium phosphate
  • Disodium phosphate
  • Monosodium phosphate
  • Phosphoric acid
  • Sodium hexameta-phosphate
  • Trisodium phosphate
  • Sodium tripolyphosphate
  • Tetrasodium pyrophosphate

Organic phosphorus is not something that is automatically limited in a diabetic diet, but it is something you need to be aware of as a patient with CKD.

Comparison of organic and inorganic phosphorus in a renal diet.

Organic phosphorus:
-Found naturally in grains, beans, nuts, seeds, dairy, and unprocessed meats
-Won't be found on ingredient lists or most nutrition fact labels
-Absorbed at a lower rate, anywhere from 30-80%
-LAST thing to limit or avoid on a renal diet when phosphorus is a concern

Inorganic phosphorus:
-Found in ingredient lists on packaged foods like pre-made meals, deli meats, sodas and baked goods
-Can be identified by the letters -phos- (like phosphoric acid)
-Highly absorbed 90 - 100%
-FIRST thing to limit or avoid on a renal diet when phosphorus is a concern

Thankfully, many of the foods that have inorganic phosphorus additives are not a good source of nutrients, and should ideally be avoided in any healthy diet.

Phosphorus binders will be prescribed if phosphorus cannot be controlled through diet changes alone. Learn more about phosphorus binders here.

Sodium

Limiting your sodium intake can be beneficial for diabetes, kidney disease, and overall health. Sodium intake has been linked to high blood pressure, which is one of the main predictors of people with diabetes developing CKD. 

Aim for 1,500 mg to 2,300 mg per day of sodium, depending on your disease and needs.

Before you throw away your Himalayan salt shaker, know this:

The majority of salt in the diet comes from processed and packaged foods, and not the salt we use at the table.

The biggest sodium-shockers in our diet include:

Yes, fast food and dining out can be a big contributor to your daily salt intake. However, making smart fast-food choices can help. Limiting dining out can also help with your sodium intake.

There are low-sodium options for many different types of convenience foods, like snacks. Click here to learn about low-sodium snacks.

Work with a dietitian when deciding how much to limit your sodium intake.

Very low sodium intake has been associated with impaired glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, two things that are a challenge for patients with diabetes.

Protein

One of the macronutrients, protein, has been tied to advanced kidney issues in later stages of CKD when not limited.

A meta-analysis in 2021 found that a low-protein diet in stages 1-3 CKD helped slow down the progression of CKD as well as reduce the amount of protein in the urine.

It also found that glucose and cholesterol levels were also improved with the low protein diet.

Protein Intake Chart

There are certain markers of eGFR you can look for when determining how much protein to eat in a day. The chart below will give you a starting range; however, getting personal recommendations will need to come from your own renal dietitian.

Stage of CKD + DiabetesGeneral Protein Range
Stages 1 – 20.8 – 1.0 g/kg/day
Stages 3a – 3b0.8 – 1.0 g/kg/day
Stages 4 – 50.6 – 0.8 g/kg/day
Stage 5 on dialysis1.0 – 1.2 g/kg/day
Reference: Jiang S, Fang J, Li W. Protein restriction for diabetic kidney disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Jul 7;2021(7):CD014906. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD014906. PMCID: PMC8261457.

Dietitians are trained to make safe diet recommendations for you and follow your lab results with you to decide your best personalized diet plan.

It is very important to work with a dietitian when following a low-protein diet . A low protein diet is defined a less than 0.8 g/kg per day.

Some research has shown that limiting protein intake during the early stages of chronic kidney disease may lead to better overall outcomes in levels such as fasting glucose and eGFR.

However, those on a renal diabetic diet are not generally encouraged to follow the same low protein diet as someone with just kidney disease and no diabetes.

Ketoanalogues

Supplementing with ketoanalogues may be helpful to complement a renal diabetic diet that is lower in protein.

Ketoanalogues are considered a medical food. They are a protein supplement designed for people with chronic kidney disease. A renal dietitian can calculate how much to take per day to safely supplement a low protein diet.

High Protein Foods to Limit

To follow a low-protein diet, it’s important to limit or avoid foods such as;

  • Chicken
  • Pork
  • Beef
  • Fish
  • Eggs
  • Dairy and dairy products such as milk and cheese

While these foods can still be included, the amount of protein can add up quickly and often exceed the amount of protein safe for a renal diet.

Nutrition comparison of 3 ounces chicken vs 3 ounces tofu.
Chicken:
26 g protein
332 mg potassium
219 mg phosphorus

Tofu
9 g protein
125 mg potassium
84 mg phosphorus

Learn more about what a low-protein diet is here.

Table of Foods to Limit for Renal Diabetic Diet

Below is a table of the groups of foods that should be limited or avoided in a renal diabetic diet.

Food Group/CategoryExamples
Sugary foods and DrinksBakery goods, sodas (both regular and diet), sugar substitutes, candies and sweets
Unhealthy FatsTrans fats (baked goods, crackers chips, cookies), saturated fats (fried foods, red meat, candies, whole-fat dairy & dairy products)
Simple CarbsWhite breads, pastas, and rice, honey, high fructose corn syrup, agave nectar, maple syrup
Phosphorus AdditivesPackaged & preserved foods with an ingredient like phosphoric acid (found in ingredients list)
SodiumPrepared/frozen meals, packaged snack foods like crackers, chips, jerky, salted nuts
ProteinAnimal meats like beef, pork, chicken, and fish
Examples of what should be limited or avoided on a renal diabetic diet

Sample Menu

Now that we’ve gone through things to include and things to limit or avoid in a renal diabetic diet, let’s put it all together!

Below is a renal diabetic diet sample menu. Keep in mind this is just an example – you may have different food preferences and nutritional needs that will be important for your own diet.

Breakfast: Steel cut oats made with almond milk, mixed berries and peanut butter

Snack: Banana “sushi”

Lunch: Veggie and hummus wrap with low-sodium tortilla chips, carrot sticks and guacamole

Snack: Kale chips and nut bar

Dinner: Buddha bowl with brown rice, edamame, cabbage, carrots and green onions topped with tahini miso sauce

Snack: Strawberries, dark chocolate square, and popcorn

Supplements for a Renal Diabetic Diet

Adding supplements into your daily routine is a personal choice and should be based on your personal dietary and health needs.

Working closely with your renal dietitian can help identify if supplements, such as probiotics or multivitamins, are good options for you. 

Multivitamin vs Renal Multivitamin

Adding a multivitamin to your daily regimen can help you bridge the gap of nutrients that you may be missing in your diet.

You may be able to take a standard daily multivitamin, but as with all medications, it’s important to first discuss with your doctor. Your dietitian will also be able to help determine if you can use a standard multivitamin or if you should instead take a kidney-specific multivitamin.

For patients who need support specific to their renal health, a renal-focused multivitamin may be a better option than a traditional, over-the-counter supplement.

This is because it allows you to better control the number of nutrients, such as phosphorus and potassium, you are supplementing to maintain your renal health.

Remember, when selecting a supplement, work with your medical team or registered dietitian to determine which is best for you.

Probiotics

Adding a probiotic supplement to your diet can help improve both your gut health and overall wellbeing.

Gut health has been linked to many aspects of health, including insulin sensitivity. It should be a priority for everyone, including those on a renal diabetic diet.

Other potential benefits for including probiotics with CKD include:

  • Reduced inflammation
  • Reduced oxidative stress
  • Less uremic toxins

Before starting a probiotic supplement, try adding some foods that are good for a renal diabetic diet that include probiotics.

Examples of probiotic foods include;

  • Tempeh
  • Yogurt
  • Kefir
  • Sauerkraut
  • Kimchi
  • Natto
Examples of probiotic foods in a renal diet:
- tempeh
- yogurt
- kefir
- sauerkraut
- kimchi
- natto

Many probiotic-rich foods are also high in sodium, potassium, and/or protein. When able, look for low-sodium options and keep portions in moderation.

However, some probiotic benefit can come from just a few tablespoons added to a meal!

Final Summary

Navigating a diagnosis of both chronic kidney disease and diabetes may feel overwhelming at first. But finding dietary options to fit your needs doesn’t have to be. 

Focus on getting in complex carbs that have fiber to keep blood sugars controlled. Add in some proteins (but not too much), and healthy fats. Potassium may or may not be an issue- that’s something your own doctor or dietitian will talk with you about.

Avoid too many sugars and sugar alternatives, and sodium to prevent problems like uncontrolled blood sugars and blood pressure. Phosphorus additives should be avoided but organic phosphorus is a different story, like potassium.

Working with a renal dietitian can help you create a plan that works best for you, while still allowing you to enjoy foods that you find enjoyable and satisfying.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Board-Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition | Website | + posts
Jen Hernandez is a registered dietitian and board-certified specialist in renal nutrition. She has nearly a decade of experience with kidney disease patients in all stages - from stage 1 through kidney transplant. Jen writes on the blog of Plant-Powered Kidneys to help reach and teach more kidney patients about how they can enjoy more foods in a plant-based diet while protecting kidney health.

28 thoughts on “Renal Diabetic Diet: What to Eat for Both Diet Plans (+ Free Meal Plan PDF)”

  1. Thank you for all the important info u hve given us about being diabetic with CkD! I would appreciate more info with regards to soya protein nd meat, fish nd chicken in my ckd diet! I also wld appreciate what beverages to hve! Thank u again nd may u be blessed always!

  2. Little Big Snake

    Can I just say what a comfort to uncover someone that truly understands what they are talking about over the internet. You certainly understand how to bring an issue to light and make it important. A lot more people should read this and understand this side of the story. I can’t believe you aren’t more popular because you surely possess the gift.

  3. I’ve heard you speak of Nutritional Yeast. I am a diabetic on metformin and I’ve read that it’s not something that a diabetic should stay away from? I appreciate your input as you probably know Google do not always agree

    1. Jen Hernandez RDN, CSR, LDN

      Hi Linda! Nutritional yeast is something that can be a great add-in to a renal diabetic diet. It does contain potassium and protein, so that will be something to consider. However, it’s not often used in large quantities. I use it like a garnish, similar to parm cheese. 🙂

  4. Pingback: Diabetes And Kidney Disease Diet: What Diabetic CKD Patients Need To Know From A Renal Dietitian - Healing Gourmet Keto Recipes

  5. Being a diabetic with heart disease and doing dialysis every other day this was great to see this info. On the sugar substitute’s is there one that you prefer ? I’m never really sure which one to buy. Thank you for all your help. 🤓

    1. Jen Hernandez RDN, CSR, LDN

      Hi Loretta! Some of the sugar substitutes I recommend include Truvia, monk fruit sweetener and Stevia. I have more information and recommendations on my article for the Renal Diet Grocery List. I hope this helps!

  6. Hi again Jen, I just finished watching the video after reading the blog. It was the replay. I am sitting in dialysis in Lawrence Kansas. I really really love when you include “swap or switch “ pictures and also the pictures of the oils that are safe choices. I seen the different sugar substitute ideas but wondered which one you prefer that we use. Thank you once again for teaching us so much about how our food choices impact our health 🤓

    1. Jen Hernandez RDN, CSR, LDN

      Hi Loretta! Thank you so much for the feedback. I’ll be sure to share more info with the swaps and switches, plus pictures, in future posts! I responded to your previous comment about sugar subs (Truvia, monk fruit, and Stevia), and you can read more about those options and more in my Renal Diet Grocery List article.

  7. Jesse naidoo South africa

    Hi Jen it’s Jesse from south africa To list
    En to you is awe inspiring I have learned so much from you
    R advic. E on managing diabetic kidney related issues through plant based nutrition thank you

  8. Thank you for all your advice. In my country, Mauritius, it’s hard to find a renal dietician. I appreciate and do my best to follow your advice. It does a lot to keep depression at large. Thank you so much

    1. Jen Hernandez RDN, CSR, LDN

      We are so happy to be a help to those internationally! Thank you so much for sharing this, Clarise. Sending you all the hugs and good vibes!

  9. Has anyone had anxiety attacks just going to the grocery store? I absolutely get so stressed just trying to find things to eat (I am diabetic with one kidney and stage 3b CKD). I’m not a fish person… a lot of things I don’t like, which makes it hard to eat well.

    1. Jen Hernandez RDN, CSR, LDN

      Aw, I’m so sorry you go through that, Rhonda. I hope learning more about all the foods you can enjoy will help you feel better. It may be time to have a dietitian join your healthcare team if you don’t yet have one – they can help you feel better about grocery shopping. 💚

  10. Really need help and you have given so much info but fear too late?
    Wish we could zoom. We live near chicago

    1. Hi Romal,

      Our dietitians work with people throughout the United States. However, there are certain states that have licensure requirements. Booking a free Kidney Master Plan Call will give our dietitians the information they need to determine what those requirements are to work with you.Then they will be able to provide you with the next steps on how to get started.Here’s the link to book with one of the dietitians.Thank you so much and good luck with your kidney health journey!

  11. Hi Jen and team, I live in Australia, Brisbane.. do you have a contact here of a renal dietician? or can we work with your consultants? My daughter has CKD stage 5.. we found you from Dadvice and it was very inspiring to hear his journey… Navigating through food is challenging and some support would be marvellous.. The 5 day meal plan is suitable for stage 5?

    1. Jen Hernandez RDN, CSR, LDN

      Hi Caroline, and thanks for reaching out from the other side of the world! I’d suggest contacting the Austrailian dietetic association. They may be able to provide recommendations once you get in contact with someone there. Here’s a link to their website and search page. Our meal plan is intended for adults in earlier stages of CKD. It may provide some ideas for you, and you can even use it to talk with your Austrailian dietitian for further customizing or as a “jumping off” point. Good luck to you both!

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