First line advice for reducing potassium in your diet. Information for patients Sheffield Dietetics

Transcription

1 First line advice for reducing potassium in your diet Information for patients Sheffield Dietetics

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3 Introduction This information booklet has been given to you to help you to reduce the amount of potassium in your diet. What is potassium? Potassium is a mineral which is found in a wide variety of foods. Some of the potassium in the human body is provided by the foods we eat and the level in the blood is controlled by the kidneys. What can happen if my potassium level is too high? One role of potassium is to ensure the healthy functioning of muscles, including your heart muscle. If the potassium in your blood is too high it can change the rhythm of your heart which can be dangerous. What should my potassium level be? Your recent blood test shows that the level of potassium in your blood is too high. The satisfactory blood level for potassium is different depending on your treatment and how well your kidneys work: If you do not have dialysis the range is mmol/l If you regularly have haemodialysis the range is mmol/l If you have peritoneal dialysis the range is mmol/l page 3 of 8

4 How can I control my potassium level? You can help control the amount of potassium in your blood by following a diet that has a lower potassium content. Sometimes the medication you need to take can affect your potassium levels. It is important that you do not stop taking these. Your doctor will advise you if your potassium levels are high enough for you to need to stop these tablets. Another reason for high potassium levels could be constipation. This is because you get rid of some potassium when you open your bowels. Whatever the reason for your increased potassium levels, changing your diet may help. Which foods contain potassium? Nearly all foods contain potassium. However, some foods contain a lot of potassium, so eating only small quantities can increase your blood levels. These are listed over the page as high potassium foods and should be avoided where possible. Other foods contain a moderate amount of potassium and can be enjoyed but not in large quantities. These are listed as 'medium potassium foods'. Some foods contain very little potassium and you can eat generous amounts of these without worrying about your potassium levels. These are listed as 'low potassium foods'. You should try to eat a variety of foods each day. Protein foods such as meat, fish, cheese and eggs should be eaten in your normal quantities, unless you have been advised otherwise by a dietitian. page 4 of 8

5 High potassium foods These foods contain a lot of potassium and are therefore best avoided; Fruit and vegetables Avocado pears Bananas Dried fruit including dates, figs, raisins, prunes, sultanas Paw paw (papaya) Rhubarb Starchy foods Baked, roast or chipped potatoes Potato croquettes or waffles Bran based cereals for example, All Bran, Bran flakes Dairy products Evaporated and condensed milk Sweets Chocolate Liquorice Snacks Cakes and biscuits containing dried fruit or nuts, or chocolate Potato or vegetable crisps Nuts page 5 of 8

6 Drinks Fruit juices Instant chocolate drinks and cocoa Malted drinks, for example, Horlicks, Ovaltine Strong ales and cider Other Salt substitutes such as Saxa So-Low or Lo Salt Meat extract, for example, Bovril Vegetable extract, for example, marmite Tomato puree Black treacle Medium potassium foods Some foods and drinks contain a medium amount of potassium and should not cause a problem unless you eat them in large quantities or if you eat them very frequently. For example: Milk - do not have more than ½ pint (300mls) per day Coffee - limit to 1-2 cups per day and choose filter coffee or coffee essence rather than instant coffee. Avoid milky coffee. Fruit and vegetables You should continue to eat fruit and vegetables in moderation. We advise you to limit fruit to two pieces per day and avoid those fruits and vegetables listed in the high potassium foods section. It is better to boil vegetables and potatoes rather than steaming or microwaving, as boiling helps to remove potassium. If making gravy, throw the water away and do not use it to make the gravy as this will add potassium in to the gravy. page 6 of 8

7 Low potassium foods These foods contain very little potassium and can be enjoyed in your usual amounts: White breads, cereals, pasta and rice Sponge cakes and biscuits Butter and margarine Tea and dilute squash What happens next? You should be referred to a dietitian for further advice. This information was provided to give you some guidance until you have an appointment with a dietitian who will assess your diet in detail. If you have any questions about specific foods please make a note of them and the dietitian will try to answer them when they see you. It is likely that you will see a dietitian at your next clinic visit or in the next few weeks if you are a haemodialysis patient. However, if you think that making these changes to your diet is too restrictive, or if you think your diet is already low in potassium and you cannot make further changes, please contact the dietitians on: page 7 of 8

8 Notes for nursing and medical staff This information booklet is to be used with patients who have a high potassium level and are unable to be seen by a dietitian immediately. These patients should be referred to a renal dietitian for dietary assessment and individual advice. Patient s name:... This information has been given to you by:... Date:... Produced with support from Sheffield Hospitals Charity Working hard to fund improvements that make life better for patients and their families Please donate to help us do more Registered Charity No Alternative formats can be available on request. Please alternativeformats@sth.nhs.uk Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2016 Re-use of all or any part of this document is governed by copyright and the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 SI 2005 No Information on re-use can be obtained from the Information Governance Department, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. infogov@sth.nhs.uk PD6274-PIL1924 v3 Issue Date: August Review Date: August 2018