Q: My wife has a kidney problem. With diet control, losing weight from 79 kg to 71 kg, controlling blood pressure around 140/70 to 150/90 mm of Hg and fasting sugar of 100 mg/dl, her creatnine has stabilised at 4.0 to 4.3 mg/dl. But, her potassium has been unsteady from 5.0 to 5.9 (at least) and 15 days ago it was 4.6. Why is potassium fluctuating so much? Why is it rising now? She takes few vegetables after leaching and only those with low potassium content. Is there any other way to control it? If we can continue like this and be able to control potassium, can we delay or avoid dialysis?

A:Your wife’s kidney function is approximately 15% (eGFR 15 ml/min) and when kidney function reaches 10%, a person usually requires dialysis. She has a marginal reserve of kidney function, which may not allow her avoiding dialysis. Potassium is high in green leafy vegetables, dry fruits, chocolates, citrus fruits, fruit juices & soups and these should be avoided. In some cases one can use K-bind 15 gm pouch once or twice in a day to lower high potassium levels > 6 meq/L (if dietary modifications do not help.