According to the United States Renal Disease (ESRD) Incident and Prevalent Quarterly Update, 37% of patients with ESRD have diabetes. The common measurement to assess prediabetes and type 2 diabetes is the A1C test or the hemoglobin A1C test. The higher the glucose level in the bloodstream, the more glucose will attach to the hemoglobin. The A1C test reflects the average blood glucose levels over the past three months. (1)
Diet plays a very big role in controlling both diabetes and kidney disease; however, it can be a challenge for individuals who have these chronic conditions to follow the recommended diet.
The goal of diabetes self-management is to provide patients with knowledge and strategies to better manage their diets, with a clinical goal of maintaining an A1C of 5.7% or lower. The Dialysis Patient Citizens Education Center is a resource that can provide your patients with suggestions for ways to successfully manage their diets to control their blood sugar and renal disease. This site provides diets and grocery lists to assist patients in controlling intake of restricted foods including those foods high in carbohydrate and sugar content-an essential part of diabetes self-management. (2)