Making lifestyle changes, including what you eat, is an important part of GN treatment for adults and children. Taking these steps can help prevent more damage to your kidneys and help with your symptoms.

• Follow a low-salt (sodium) diet to help manage high blood pressure and extra fluid in the body (fluid retention). To eat less salt:
  • Read food labels to choose foods that are lower in salt.
  • Cook and eat food without adding salt.
  • Choose fresh, unprocessed, and homemade foods.
  • Flavour your food with herbs, spices, garlic, onion, lemon juice, vinegar, and salt-free seasonings.
• Drink 8 cups (2 litres) of fluid a day unless your healthcare team tells you to drink another amount. At least half of these fluids should be water. Contact your healthcare team if you gain weight suddenly, because this could be a sign of fluid retention.
• Talk to your doctor or dietitian about how much protein to eat. People need different amounts of protein based on body size, medicines, and how well their kidneys work (kidney function).

Everyone is different, so your or your child’s nutrition needs may be different than those of other people with GN or chronic kidney disease. You don’t need to watch potassium and phosphorus in your diet unless your doctor or dietitian asks you to.

Nutrition is also important for people who are taking corticosteroids (such as prednisone). That’s because they have side effects that nutrition can help to manage. These side effects may include:

• higher risk of osteoporosis (weaker bones) (Talk to your doctor or dietitian about how much calcium and vitamin D is right for you. You may need to take calcium and vitamin D supplements.)
• feeling very hungry (This can cause you to gain weight. Follow healthy eating habits and get regular exercise.)
• higher blood sugar than normal (Your doctor and dietitian can help to manage blood sugar.)