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Coping with Kidney Disease: A 12-Step Treatment Program to Help You Avoid Dialysis

Course Outline

A revolutionary program that can indefinitely postpone the need for dialysis!

If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney failure, this book could save your life. If you suffer from diabetes, hypertension, obesity, or any of a host of conditions that put you at risk for kidney disease, you owe it to yourself to read what is in this book. If you are among the 60,000 North Americans who go on dialysis each year, the information in this book could substantially improve your quality of life.

In Coping with Kidney Disease, a leading expert tells you, in plain English, what you need to know to:

  • Understand kidney failure
  • Recognize early warning signs of kidney failure
  • Get a proper diagnosis
  • Talk with your doctors about it
  • Confidently evaluate treatment options
  • Take charge of your treatment
  • Delay dialysis or even avoid the need for it altogether

The centerpiece of Coping with Kidney Disease is Dr. Walser’s revolutionary 12-step program for avoiding dialysis. Based on treatments he has pioneered with his own patients at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the program calls for a supplemented low-protein diet supported by treatments to control blood pressure and correct high cholesterol. So effective has this breakthrough strategy proven to be that in many patients it actually worked to slow or arrest the progression of kidney failure to the end stage.

Knowledge is power. Coping with Kidney Disease empowers you with what you need to take charge of kidney disease.

About Authors

Mackenzie Walser, M.D., is Professor of Pharmacology and Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Betsy Thorpe is the coauthor of Carol Cuber’s Type 2 Diabetes Life Plan.

After completing this course you’ll be able to:

  1. Describe the main function of the kidneys.
  2. List and describe the hormones produced by the kidneys.
  3. Compare acute and chronic kidney failure.
  4. Discuss the two main diseases that lead to kidney failure.
  5. Discuss the use of drugs that lead to kidney failure.
  6. Describe several symptoms of chronic kidney failure.
  7. Describe the End-Stage Renal Disease program.
  8. Discuss the concept of “remission” of chronic renal failure.
  9. Discuss “doctor shopping.”
  10. Discuss the effects of alcohol and smoking on kidney disease.
  11. List foods to avoid when on a protein restricted diet.
  12. Discuss the three important features of a very-low-protein diet.
  13. Discuss high phosphate foods and give examples.
  14. Discuss the role of nitrogen in a low protein diet.
  15. Discuss supplements needed on a very-low-protein diet.
  16. Define nitrogen balance.
  17. Describe water intoxication.
  18. Define hyponatremia and hypernatremia and state the normal range.
  19. Compare pitting edema and pulmonary edema.
  20. Discuss the response of the kidneys when dieresis is overdone.
  21. Define “orthostatic” symptoms.
  22. Describe what blood pressure is and how it is regulated by the body.
  23. Discuss the role of sodium in hypertension.
  24. Discuss briefly the various medications for hypertension.
  25. Compare alkalosis and acidosis and state the treatment for each.
  26. Describe iron deficiency and state the treatment.
  27. Define hyperkalemia and state the treatment.
  28. Describe the three mechanisms that regulate blood calcium concentration.
  29. Describe gout and its symptoms.
  30. Compare high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein.
  31. Describe the effects of statins for elevated cholesterol levels.
  32. State how angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) slow progression of kidney failure.
  33. State the best screening test for chronic renal impairment.
  34. Describe the four ways of measuring the glomerular filtration rate.
  35. List the three major disadvantages to using a creatinine level as a measure of kidney function.
  36. Describe the 24-hour urine test.
  37. Define blinding
  38. Describe the nephrotic syndrome and diet recommended.
  39. Discuss the use of steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in kidney failure.
  40. Describe what is involved when having a kidney transplant.
  41. Compare hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
  42. Discuss withholding and withdrawal of dialysis.

Course Contents

Introduction

Terms, Measures, and Abbreviations

Part I: Looking at the Disease of Kidney Failure

  1. What Do Kidneys Do and What Happens When They Fail?
  2. Are You at Risk for Kidney Failure?
  3. Symptoms of Kidney Failure

Part II: How to Treat Kidney Failure

  1. Treating Kidney Failure
  2. Step 1: Assess Your Current Treatment Plan
  3. Step 2: Make Lifestyle Changes
  4. Step 3: Follow a Low-Protein Diet
  5. Step 4: Treat Salt and Water Problems
  6. Step 5: Regulate Your Blood Pressure
  7. Step 6: Treat Acidosis
  8. Step 7: Treat Anemia and Iron Deficiency
  9. Step 8: Treat Potassium Problems
  10. Step 9: Treat Calcium and Phosphate Problems
  11. Step 10: Treat Gout and Uric Acid Problems
  12. Step 11: Treat Your High Cholesterol
  13. Step 12: Know the Medications That Slow the Progression of Renal Failure

Part III: Tracking Kidney Failure, Dialysis, Transplants, and More

  1. Keeping Close Watch on Your Kidney Failure
  2. Dietary Treatment of the Nephrotic Syndrome
  3. Safe and Unsafe Medications
  4. Transplantation as an Alternative to Dialysis
  5. When to Opt for Dialysis
  6. Patients Who Have Avoided Dialysis

Appendix 1: Resources for Kidney Patients

Appendix 2: Government Support of Low-Protein Diets