Patients receiving dialysis treatments need to follow dialysis specific diets. The following are general guidelines for patients receiving either hemodialysis, or peritoneal dialysis. Your physician may adjust your diet according to your specific needs.

Hemodialysis Diet

Since your dialysis treatments occur only 3 times a week, its important to control the amounts and types of foods and fluids you take in every day. This is the most limiting of the renal diets.

Guidelines

Protein: 6-10 ounces of animal protein is encouraged each day.
Sodium: All salty foods are discouraged and food should not be salted in cooking or at the table.
Potassium: Is limited to 2 to 3 grams a day. Oranges, bananas, melons, potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, dried beans and fresh peaches and pears are to be avoided.
Fluids: Are usually limited to only 4-6 (8-ounce cups) each day or 32-48 ounces. This includes anything that is liquid at room temperature like jello, soup, ice cream, ice cubes, coffee, etc.
Phosphorus: High phosphorus foods such as dried beans, peanut butter and nuts are discouraged. Milk is limited to ½ cup per day, and cheese to 1-2 times a week.

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Diet

PD is an ongoing daily dialysis program. Therefore, people on PD need to eat a lot more protein than people on a Hemodialysis Diet. This is the most liberal of the renal diets.

Protein: 10-12 ounces of animal protein each day is encouraged (beef, pork, chicken, fish and eggs)
Sodium: Most people follow a No Added Salt restriction (no salt at the table and no very salty foods such as pretzels or chips)
Potassium: This is usually not limited
Fluids: Fluids are usually not limited, and most people drink 8-12 cups a day.
Phosphorus: High phosphorus foods such as dried beans, peanut butter and nuts are discouraged. Cheese is limited to 2-3 times a week and milk to ½ cup per day.