Dieticians help kidney patients manage their disease

Editor's note: March marks National Kidney Month. To raise awareness, Firelands Health recently highlighted some aspects about what people should know about kidney health. Kidneys are often overlooked until something goes wrong, but they quietly perform some of the body's most important work. They are organs about the size of a fist and sit in your back, one on each side of your spine just below the rib cage. They have many functions that help keep our bodies healthy. Kidneys filter toxins from your blood, make urine, balance electrolytes, help control blood pressure, and produce hormones that help make red blood cells. When kidney function declines, additional medical treatment may be needed to help support these important functions. Many people live with chronic kidney disease, but when kidney function decreases to 15% or less, dialysis may be required. During dialysis treatments, blood is filtered through a dialysis machine, which cleans the blood, removes toxins and excess fluids, then returns it to the body. This procedure usually takes three to five hours, depending on the individual, and is repeated three times per week. Dialysis treatment is tailored to each person by a kidney specialist, known as a nephrologist. Most treatments take place at a dialysis clinic, but patients with strong support systems can be trained to perform dialysis at home, through either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Each patient receiving dialysis is supported by a specialized care team that includes a nephrologist, nurse, dialysis technician, social worker and dietician. They work together to provide comprehensive care so patients can feel their best. Ellen Hohler is part of the care team at Firelands Dialysis Center in Sandusky. Her expertise as a registered dietitian is to help patients navigate the complex dietary restrictions associated with dialysis and chronic kidney disease. Hohler completes nutrition assessments and provides diet education tailored to each patient's needs. People receiving dialysis often have dietary restrictions on sodium, potassium, phosphorus, fluids and protein. She helps patients navigate these restrictions into practical, manageable meal plans that support both health and quality of life. Hohler also regularly monitors lab data and reviews the results with each patient, offering recommendations to adjust the diet to keep lab values within target ranges. Because many dialysis patients also have diabetes, she also assists with blood sugar management as part of their overall care. "I have worked for the hospital for 35 years and have been working in dialysis for 25 of those years," Hohler said. "I find it rewarding because I get to work with the patient, and, over time, I get to develop a relationship with the patients and their families. It feels good to make a difference and to see patients improve or get a transplant."