Tracieann, for the last couple of days I've been looking around on the internet for ways to prevent kidney disease. Interestingly, nothing I read was particularly helpful. There were a few exceptions. Here's one that describes a possible microbiome role in kidney health...
https://kresserinstitute.com/gut-kidney-axis/ There's a few recommendations in the last section.
- Eliminate or greatly limit processed foods to reduce salt intake. Instead eat fresh, whole foods and add salt to each meal to insure that salt intake doesn't drop too low. Both high and low levels of salt are problematic for health.
- Always include vegetables (above ground if on the low carb diet) and/or leafy greens to provide needed fiber with your protein (and fat) at every meal. He explains how fiber counteracts some of the unwanted effects of animal protein in the article.
I was reading your previous posts. You're like me in that you love chocolate. There's are two reasons I crave it like crazy if I have any: the sugar (which is why it's recommended to only eat 80% - 85% cocoa chocolate), and a lesser known reason, magnesium deficiency. Low carb sources of magnesium are almonds - (Nuts should always be eaten raw. Roasted nuts are coated with unhealthy damaged oils, and I believe the heat process also damages the fat in the nuts.) - and leafy greens, raw or cooked, avocado. Here's a longer list...
https://www.ketovale.com/magnesium-rich-foods/ Have you tried replacing chocolate with cocao nibs? I like them.
I personally take 300 mg, sometimes 450 mg, of magnesium citrate. Others take magnesium glycinate which is less likely to cause loose stools. When taking magnesium, ramp up the dosage slowly. I tolerate magnesium citrate well, but those who have problems with loose stools often do better on magnesium glycinate. Read more here...
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315372.php
If you haven't had your vitamin D levels checked, do so. I take 4000 IU of D3 during the dark months, and 2,000 IU during the sunny months to maintain optimal vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is very important, particularly for those with any chronic disease including diabetes.
Here's an interesting article on possible causes of food cravings...
https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/article/fat-loss-articles/what-do-food-cravings-mean/
If my eGFR was 64, I wouldn't panic, but I would be taking a much harder look at my diet. For the last 4 years, I've eaten a low carb ketogenic diet that consists of primarily whole foods, almost no processed foods. By that I mean, I eat a vegetables or leafy greens with every meal. I also eat healthy animal protein and animal and/or plant fat with every meal. Grains are problematic for some people. I eliminated the grains wheat, rye, barley, and oats and other gluten containing processed foods in 2011 and have significantly limited the other grains since 2015. By that I mean, I'll occasionally have 6 crackers made from rice and quinoa flour and a variety of healthy seeds.
If you're like most of us and have excess weight, the ketogenic diet is very helpful. But cut back your daily intake of dairy and raw nuts if your weight loss plateaus.
I'm interested in learning more about kidney health and will continue to post helpful information as I come across it. The two people with diabetes in my life who have developed CKD both went the medication or medication and insulin route, continue to struggle with somewhat controlled glucose levels, and have been unable to remove most or all processed foods. It's a battle worth fighting in my experience.