Diabetes is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease, which develops as a result of the long-term negative consequences of high blood glucose levels on the microscopic blood arteries important for kidney function. 

The most severe stage of CKD, known as kidney failure, occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to efficiently filter waste products from the blood, necessitating dialysis (mechanical filtration of waste products from the blood) or a kidney transplant in order to maintain life.


Study shows Chronic kidney disease patients consume less fruit and vegetables:

Researchers examined the patterns of fruit and vegetable consumption among American adults with and without chronic kidney disease for the most recent study. They did this by using information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected between 1988 and 1994, 2003 and 2010, and 2011 and 2018. The number of phytochemicals (healthy nutrients) and the degree of processing of the fruits and vegetables that people ate were used by the researchers to categorize the meals that people consumed.

According to a report on the study at Healio, the estimated prevalence of chronic kidney disease among study participants ranged from 13.6% to 15.2%, depending on the time period. A low overall intake, a high intake of unprocessed produce, a high intake of ultra-processed produce, and a moderate consumption of processed fruits and vegetables were assigned to each participant, regardless of whether they had CKD or not. Low consumption of fruits and vegetables, together with a tendency to consume less fiber overall, was the most prevalent pattern across individuals with or without Chronic Kidney disease (CKD).


Study results

Participants with chronic kidney disease were more likely to have a poor total consumption of fruits and vegetables, even after the researchers controlled for specific demographic characteristics (such as age, sex, or ethnicity). This was true for people from all three time periods, even though the most recent group's difference was not statistically different. 

However, the researchers had no means of knowing if patients may have changed their diets in response to their disease or whether a low consumption of fruits and vegetables was a role in developing CKD. Some CKD patients are advised to avoid specific foods that may be challenging for the kidneys to excrete from the body.

In any case, the researchers found it concerning that persons with chronic kidney disease are more likely to consume less fruits and vegetables, despite the fact that these foods are packed with nutrients that may promote both kidney and general health. They stated that more research is required to examine strategies that may be successful in boosting fruit and vegetable consumption in CKD patients.

If you have CKD and have noticed that you are eating less fruits and vegetables, you may want to modify that and make it a habit to consume kidney-friendly fruits and vegetables on a daily basis.


What can one do to lower Kidney failure risk and Kidney disease progression?

Diet Changes:

Fortunately, there are actions people with diabetes may do to lower their risk for kidney disease or the progression of kidney disease. Those actions include:

  • Eating a balanced healthy diet 
  • Cutting down highly processed foods
  • Incorporating Mediterranean diet 
  • Consuming Coffee( Not too much)
  • Eating enough fruits and vegetables

These small altercations to your diet may help you retain kidney function Coffee.

Weight lowering:

Since obesity is connected to a greater prevalence of CKD in patients with type 2 diabetes, maintaining a healthy body weight — and lowering weight if necessary — may also be crucial to maintaining kidney function. 

Considering medication:

Finally, several medications have the potential to enhance kidney outcomes. A GLP-1 agonist may lower the risk of death in people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, and there are medications approved specifically for CKD, such as Kerendia (finerenone) and Farxiga (dapagliflozin), which is also used to treat type 2 diabetes and has been shown to lower the risk of kidney failure.