Your choice of treatment will have a big impact on your day to day lifestyle, such as being able to keep a job if you are working. You are the only one who can decide what means most to you. Reading this information is a good way to learn about your options so you can make an informed choice, if you find that your choice is not a good fit for your life, you can change treatments. With the help of your health care team, family, and friends, you can lead a full, active life. Acute kidney failure may be caused by severe infection, burns, diarrhea or vomiting, poisoning, surgery, or injury to the kidneys. When the problem is resolved, function usually returns to normal. Chronic kidney failure may be caused by untreated hypertension, poorly controlled diabetes, or an inborn condition.

Diet is very important in the management of kidney failure. The general recommendations include restricting protein, salt, phosphorus, and potassium. Fluids must be carefully monitored. With too little fluid, the electrolytes are out of balance, with too much fluid retention causes edema and electrolyte problems and it also contributes to high blood pressure and perhaps congestive heart failure. The patient on dialysis will receive the essential amino acids but reduce the risk of further kidney damage. Protens from fish, egg whites, and combinations of legumes and grains are preferable to those in meat because they contain less saturated fat. No changes in diet should be made without a doctor’s approval. Anyone receiving treatment for kidney failure should consult regularly with a specialist dietician who will monitor the diet and make any necessary adjustments in the amounts of nutrients, including vitamin and mineral supplements.