Creatinine is formed in the body when the energy reserve of muscles is broken down. People with a large muscle mass often have a higher amount of creatinine in their body. Even someone who has recently eaten large amounts of meat may temporarily have a high creatinine level. Creatinine then leaves the body via the kidneys in the urine. Measuring the creatinine level in the blood can therefore quickly show whether the kidneys are working well.
If you have been told that your creatinine level is above normal, you are probably wondering – how do you lower your creatinine? The answer to that question is that it depends. In addition to large muscle mass and meat intake, high creatinine can be caused by various things. If you are dehydrated or if there is a blockage in the kidneys (e.g. kidney stones) or if you have a very enlarged prostate, your creatinine level may increase.
To know for sure if the high creatinine level is due to something wrong with the kidneys, and if you need to lower it, more tests need to be done.
Risk of needing dialysis
How is high creatinine treated? People diagnosed with kidney failure are often given dietary guidelines. Chronic kidney disease is a serious illness, which over time leads to the need for dialysis. Dialysis is a medical way of filtering the blood as the kidneys would otherwise do. It has to be done several times a week for several hours in hospital.
In order to survive as long as possible without dialysis treatment, people with chronic kidney disease are advised to eat special foods. Depending on the stage of the disease, different types of diets are recommended. It is therefore important that any type of dietary change is made in consultation with a doctor and dietician.
Foods to avoid in kidney failure
The nutrients to be regulated in the different stages of kidney failure are protein, potassium and phosphorus. If you are recommended food with less protein, you will find it more difficult to get enough energy, leading to malnutrition. It is therefore important to follow the recommendations of your dietician to ensure that you get what you need.
As for kidney failure and drinking water or other beverages, in some cases your doctor may set a limit on how much fluid you should drink each day. This is because the kidneys are no longer able to filter enough of the substance out of the body in the urine. You will then accumulate fluid in your body and become swollen. It also affects the heart and lungs.
