Nutritional Monitoring
Proper nutrition is a critically important factor in ensuring the health and well-being of the hemodialysis patients and in reducing complications associated to the disease.
The most important role of the clinical dietitian in hemodialysis is to educate patients to make the right dietary choices. The goal of nutritional intervention is for the patient to understand how nutrition affects their laboratory results and how these results, and consequently, can impact their long-term health.
The clinical dietitian’s role in hemodialysis is to provide valuable guidance to help the patient stay healthy by understanding the dietary restrictions imposed by their kidney disease, as well as any other coexisting conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia).
Once a month, the clinical dietitian meets individually with each patient to discuss and review their monthly laboratory tests. Based on these findings, the dietitian provides updated nutritional education and recommends specific dietary adjustments to improve parameters related to kidney disease. The aim of nutritional care is to ensure adequate energy and protein intake to maintain a healthy weight and prevent muscle loss, to restrict micronutrients such as potassium, phosphorus, and sodium where necessary, to preserve bone mass, and to achieve an acceptable increase in weight/fluids between hemodialysis sessions. The issue of renal failure and dietary adjustment often concerns not only the patient themselves, but also frequently affects their close environment. Meetings are also held with patients’ families to provide information, education, and guidance on suitable meal choices, as well as to answer any questions that may arise.
Our Center collaborates with the specialized clinical dietitians Nikoleta Papadopoulou and Anna Pachita.
Anna Pachita and Nikoleta Papadopoulou are registered clinical dietitians (RD) with over 15 years of professional experience both in hospital and private settings, in Cyprus and abroad. They maintain private practices while also collaborating with rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and a network of healthcare professionals.
At the same time, they play an active and leading role in educating new clinical dietitians through their positions as Instructors and part-time Faculty Members at the University of Nicosia.
They provide counseling and support to patients with various conditions, including kidney diseases and have been collaborating with the Nefrontida Center since its establishment, providing nutritional advice and support to patients and their families.
They have been collaborating with the Nefrontida Center since its establishment, providing nutritional advice and support to patients and their families. Their years of experience and practice have equipped them with the necessary knowledge to manage and offer holistic nutritional support to their patients.
