I have chronic kidney disease.

Some years back, I was diagnosed with stage 3B kidney disease. My GFR was in the low 30’s. GFR is glomerular filtration rate, and is the main indicator of kidney function.

The GFR slid downward rapidly, from normal sixtyish to not so good thirties, and I was diagnosed and referred to a nephrologist (kidney specialist).

My GFR had hovered in the 23-24 range for 2-3 years, possibly due to diet and the wonder drug Jardiance. You may have seen the somewhat obnoxious ads for this medicine, and while I used to loathe such ads, I am so grateful for their intercession that I sometimes even sing the cheesy jingles.

For the past couple of years, I’ve been lax about my diet, avoiding added salt, using small amounts of milk and cheese, watching my potassium, phosphate, sodium and sugar, but eating outside my diet at times and drinking many safe drinks but perhaps too much of them.

This weekend, I got my GFR tested and it was 22. One point down is huge, and not in a good way. I don’t want to go on dialysis or to need transplant, nor to die just yet.

So today, when our pizza arrived, my wife got me a salad, so I only ate two slices and half the salad. Portions are key with CKD.

I decided yesterday to mostly drink water as my wife has long exhorted me. I’ll still have bit of hot and iced tea, but am going to limit my beverages to 6-8 glasses per day, overall, and I had an artificially sweetened seltzer with dinner (tastes like soda), and some tea, but drank mostly water otherwise, and am monitoring my fluid quantities.

The Jardiance has been doing its job, so now I’ll see if diet and my normal moderate exercise will win the day.

I know my life on this earth is limited, as it is for all of us, but I want to do my best to care for the body the Lord has given me and to be successful in achieving the things he has for me to do.

I want to enjoy my food, and am blessed that the things I ate this weekend were delicious. God makes things taste better when I am obedient to His Word.

God is so good.

Featured image (not above) courtesy of Pexels.com