Actions from Insight: Your Kidney Friendly Nutrition Plan (20 min)

More than 1 in 7 US adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease, or CKD, and as many as 9 in 10 don’t know they have it.  Damage to your kidneys cannot be reversed, but if found early, there are ways to prevent its progression such as following a healthy eating plan and being physically active.  Today’s episode is with Patty Bianchi, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, and Maeson Latsko, PhD, Clinical and Education Specialist at Quest Diagnostics Center of Excellence at Cleveland HeartLab. 

This episode will

• Review function of the kidneys (1:20)
• Identify causes and risk factors of chronic kidney disease (3:00)
• Review lifestyle changes to prevent the progression of kidney disease (7:50, 17:00)
• Discuss how limiting salt intake (10:00), animal protein (12:15), and mineral content (14:30) should be a focus for patients with CKD 

To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings, as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions. 

Date:  03/2025

Speakers(s):  Patty Bianchi, MS, RDN, Maeson Latsko, PhD

Contributor(s): Trisha Winchester, PhD

Additional Resources: 

 Instant Insights: Kidney Profile and eGFR with creatinine and cystatin-C

Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link] 

References:

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. Kidney Disease Statistics for the United States. September 9, 2024. Accessed February 2025

Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) CKD Work Group. KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney Int. 2024;105(4S):S117-S314. doi:10.1016/j.kint.2023.10.018

Key Takeaways People Living with CKD