When Deanne Taylor learned from her nephrologist that her kidney disease was getting worse, she felt overwhelmed and unsure what to do next. She knew nutrition could help manage chronic kidney disease but wasn’t sure where to start. Previous activities she enjoyed like cooking, going out to eat with friends and grocery shopping now suddenly became sources of stress and anxiety. Deanne even stopped eating dinner with her husband.
During a routine visit with her nephrologist, Deanne received a referral to Northwest Kidney Centers for Medical Nutrition therapy (MNT). She hoped it could help her better understand how nutrition affects kidney disease and what changes she could make to protect her kidney health.
Everything began to change after she connected with Northwest Kidney Centers and scheduled her first session with Beth Ingersoll, a registered dietitian at Northwest Kidney Centers. MNT, also known as nutrition counseling, helps an individual manage CKD through personalized nutrition guidance. It includes a complete nutrition assessment, diagnosis of nutrition problems, individualized intervention, and careful monitoring and evaluation.
For people with CKD, nutrition plays an important role in managing symptoms and slowing disease progression. Rather than providing meal plans, MNT helps build the knowledge and confidence to make food choices that fit their lifestyle and health needs.
“I was very anxious going into the first meeting,” Deanne said. “But once I got connected with NKC and Beth, everything fell into place.”
During their first session, Beth reviewed Deanne’s medical history, lab results, eating habits and daily routines. Together, they identified small, manageable changes that would fit Deanne’s lifestyle.
“Deanne came to her first MNT visit feeling really anxious. She had cut out many foods and stopped eating with her family,” Ingersoll said. “We talked about her specific nutrition goals and ways she could add more nutrients to her foods to support her kidneys. On her second visit, her mood significantly improved. She felt better and was enjoying foods with her family again.”
That individualized approach is one of the key factors Beth believes makes MNT so effective.
“With nutrition counseling, dietitians have the advantage of time,” Beth said. “We’re able to spend the time to get to know you and your specific nutrition needs and give you the opportunity to ask questions about what is important to you.”
Unlike many medical appointments, MNT visits provide dedicated one-on-one time for patients to discuss challenges, ask questions and develop practical strategies that fit their everyday lives.
Over the course of three sessions with Beth, Deanne learned how food choices affect kidney health. Instead of feeling restricted, she discovered there are many foods she can still enjoy. Beth provided educational handouts, recipes and nutrition tips to help her stay organized and confident between visits.
The support even extended beyond the kitchen at home. Before meeting friends at Panera, Deanne asked for help navigating the menu. Beth identified lower-sodium options and meal choices that fit her nutrition goals, allowing Deanne to enjoy the outing without worrying about what she could eat.
Beth saw the change in Deanne almost immediately.
Over time, those small changes made a big difference. Deanne is still living with stage 4 kidney disease, but her condition has stabilized. Her kidney function improved, with her glomerular filtration rate increasing from 19 in December to 26 in June. She also went from seeing her nephrologist every month to every four months.
Today, planning meals has become part of Deanne’s routine. She feels more confident in her food choices, enjoys cooking again and no longer worries about every meal. She even enjoys sharing dinner with her husband again — something she stopped doing when her anxiety about kidney disease was at its worst.
“Before MNT, I felt very depressed and unsure about my future. Beth gave me hope and helped me see this was not the end of the road. I would recommend giving MNT and Northwest Kidney Centers a chance — they really look out for you,” Deanne said.