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Eating on Peritoneal Dialysis
Peritoneal dialysis works every day, and the dialysis fluid itself contains sugar that your body absorbs. That changes the picture: protein needs are high, potassium is often freer than on hemodialysis, and added sugar and fluid still need attention.
A different kind of dialysis, a different plate
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) cleans the blood continuously, using the lining of your abdomen and a sugar-containing dialysis fluid. Because treatment runs every day, potassium usually stays steadier than on hemodialysis — but the fluid itself quietly adds sugar and calories, and protein is lost into the drained fluid every day. Both facts shape the PD plate.
Your PD team tracks your weight, blood pressure and blood tests, and your dietitian adjusts your pattern as results change.
What changes, and why
Protein generously: PD drains protein out with every exchange, so people on PD are usually advised to eat protein at every meal and choose protein-rich snacks. Falling behind shows up as low albumin on blood tests and loss of muscle.
Sugar awareness: the glucose in PD fluid is partly absorbed, adding calories you never ate. That makes added sugar in food and drink doubly worth limiting, and it can raise blood sugar — important if you also have diabetes.
Potassium often freer: continuous dialysis clears potassium well, and some people on PD are told their potassium runs low and to eat more potassium-rich foods. Follow your own blood results, not generic dialysis advice.
Fluid and sodium still matter: PD can remove fluid daily, which gives some flexibility, but a high sodium intake still drives thirst and can outpace what ultrafiltration removes. Your team will tell you your daily fluid guide.
Fibre helps: constipation can interfere with PD drainage, so fibre-rich lower-potassium choices and regular meals earn their place.
A sample day
Breakfast: Eggs or Greek-style yogurt alternative with toast and berries; tea or coffee.
Lunch: Chicken and rice soup made with low-salt stock, or a wrap with chicken, peppers and lettuce.
Snack: A protein-rich snack such as an egg, a small handful of unsalted nuts if your potassium allows, or cottage cheese on crackers.
Dinner: Baked fish with pasta, zucchini and green beans in a herb and olive-oil dressing.
Drinks: Water and drinks within your team's guide; favour water over sugary drinks, since your dialysis fluid already adds sugar.
A sample only — quantities and choices are set by your own targets, blood results and appetite. Ask your renal dietitian to adapt it.
Related conditions
Related procedures & tests
Related symptoms
Watch: related videos
Frequently asked questions
Why does peritoneal dialysis make some people gain weight?
The dialysis fluid uses glucose (sugar) to pull water from the blood, and a share of that glucose is absorbed into the body as extra calories. Over months this can add weight, especially around the waist, and can raise blood sugar. Limiting added sugar in food and drink, watching portions, and reviewing your prescription with your PD team all help.
My team says my potassium is low on PD. Should I eat more bananas and oranges?
Possibly — continuous dialysis clears potassium efficiently, and low potassium is a recognised problem on PD. If your team advises more potassium, higher-potassium foods like bananas, oranges and potatoes become useful rather than forbidden. Change your intake only on your team's advice and recheck blood levels as they direct.
These pages are general education about eating with kidney disease, dialysis or a kidney transplant. They are not medical advice and do not replace your own care plan. Kidney diets are individual: what is right for you depends on your stage, your blood tests, your medicines and your other conditions. Always talk to your care team or renal dietitian before changing what you eat, and never stop or change a medicine because of something you read here.