Episode Details: Nutrition & Kidney Health
What you’ll get from this episode:
- Dr. Deborah Clegg’s journey from dietitian to VP of research at Texas Tech University.
- The vital role of nutrition in managing cardio-renal metabolic diseases.
- Importance of real-time data for empowering patients with kidney disease.
- Challenges and potential of biosensors for continuous potassium monitoring.
- Advocacy for re-evaluating dietary guidelines for kidney disease patients.
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Introduction
In the final episode of Season One of the Action Potential podcast, host Sahan welcomes Dr. Deborah Clegg, a clinical dietitian and VP of research at Texas Tech University. Dr. Clegg shares her journey and passion for nutrition, particularly in the context of cardio-renal metabolic diseases.
Dr. Deborah Clegg: A Pioneer in Nutrition and Kidney Health
Dr. Deborah Clegg began her career as a kidney dietitian at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where she fell in love with the field due to her love for data and the direct impact of nutrition on patients’ health. This passion led her to further her education and focus on the metabolic mechanisms behind kidney disease.
The Role of Nutrition in Kidney Disease
Dr. Clegg explains the importance of nutrition in managing kidney disease, emphasizing the need for real-time data to empower patients. She highlights the adversarial nature of current dietary recommendations and the potential benefits of biosensors for continuous monitoring of potassium levels.
The Potassium Paradox
Potassium is a crucial nutrient often restricted in kidney disease patients due to the risk of hyperkalemia. Dr. Clegg argues that current dietary guidelines are based on outdated studies and do not consider the benefits of potassium-rich foods. She advocates for re-evaluating these guidelines and leveraging new technologies to monitor potassium levels accurately.
Challenges and Opportunities in Patient Care
Dr. Clegg discusses the challenges faced by kidney disease patients, particularly those in earlier stages who receive less dietary support. She emphasizes the need for personalized nutrition plans and the potential of continuous monitoring technologies to improve patient outcomes.
Conclusion
Dr. Clegg envisions a future where patients with kidney disease are empowered through personalized nutrition plans and real-time data. She calls for a re-evaluation of dietary guidelines and greater use of biosensors to enhance patient care.
Thank you to our sponsor ProtonIntel!
Hyperkalemia (high potassium) affects more than 3.7M Americans. Chronic Kidney Disease is the main cause & heart attacks are the main effect. For people at risk of hyperkalemia, potassium needs to be tightly monitored, even during treatment.
Today, there is no on-demand K+ monitoring capability to guide treatment of hyperkalemia.
ProtonIntel is building the first real-time, on-demand potassium monitoring wearable, allowing clinicians to treat and manage kidney disease patients more safely and precisely.
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