Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) affects over 600,000 people in the United States, making it the most prevalent genetically inherited kidney disease. Currently, there is no cure for PKD. Over the past decade, groundbreaking research has given us insight into the genetics of PKD, its progression pathways, and opened up new therapeutic opportunities to positively impact progression. This webinar will provide an overview of what Polycystic Kidney Disease is, its progression patterns and review pathways that are impacted by nutrition. We will discuss how PKD, and kidney cyst, are metabolically different and demonstrate why a ketogenic diet in a nutritional opportunity for treatment. Plus, learn how to set up a kidney-friendly ketogenic diet, macro and micronutrient goal setting, important biomarkers to track, and what a kidney-friendly ketogenic looks like on patient's plates.
Speaker
Diana Bruen, MS, RDN
Diana Bruen is a Registered Dietitian and founder of The PKD Dietitian. She provides nutrition therapy and education to patients with Polycystic Kidney Disease. Diana received her Master’s Nutrition & Health Promotion from Simmons has been a Dietitian for over 16 years. She is a renal nutrition specialist with a focus on proactive nutrition for PKD health. Her research interests include plant-forward ketogenic therapy, pain modification through dietary intervention, and the benefits of plant-forward diets. Diana also runs the PKD Nutrition Academy, a learning hub for all things PKD & Nutrition. Her vision is to bring science-based nutrition education to the PKD community on a wider scale with easier access for all.