Effects of LCHF on Kidney Function?

MyriiStorm

My co-worker's husband is T2D. He went to a nutritionist last week, who told him he should try a vegan diet. Her reasoning is that he is showing signs of impaired kidney function, and the lower protein in a vegan diet would be beneficial.

Does this sound right to you? Anyone with experience in this area? I gave my co-worker some basic info about LCHF, but don't want to recommend it fully if it might harm her hubby.

cstehansen

The fat won't be a problem for the kidneys, but too much protein can be. Because we have had it beat into our heads for the last 50+ years that fat is bad, it is not uncommon for someone who is cutting carbs to eat too much protein because they only eat the "lean" meats. I actually started that way when I was first diagnosed as T2 last year. My BUN is considered to be too high (indicates amount of protist in the blood) in my last couple sets of blood work which is one reason I started looking at LCHF. It has done wonders lowering my BG. Next blood work draw is still a few months away, so I don't know how much the BUN. My understanding is if someone has kidney issues then the excess protein exacerbates it, but if you don't, then it won't.

Sunny_Bunny_

He can still keep Protein lower on LCHF. As a T2D, it's often a better way to go anyway.
I imagine the nutritionist has completely ruled out a high fat diet based on old flawed thinking. No doubt she's convinced he would fall over dead from a heart attack. With that kind of thinking, fat is the macro that is fixed at a low percentage and only carbs and protein are adjustable. So by not even considering anything else, her obvious solution is eat high carb and low protein.
To me, this is someone without any understanding of a LCHF diet steering people down a path that never results in reversing diabetes.

cstehansen

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10454262/best-lc-diabetes-info-i-have-found#latest

I started the thread in this link because I am T2 and believe in fully understanding my situation. The link in this thread is to an amazing summary article of dozens of research studies done over the years and completely debunks the "put the diabetic on a low fat diet" myth. It uses peer reviewed medical studies. This is something a real doctor could not argue with.

MyriiStorm

Thanks for the responses @cstehansen and @Sunny_Bunny_ . That helps me feel better about recommending LCHF to her and her husband. It has turned my own T2D around, but my doctor never voiced any concerns about my kidneys.