I am hoping that someone on here has a similar situation as me… I am a type 1 diabetic (40 years), with a prosthetic left foot and stage 3 kidney disease. I have been lifting and working out for 12 years but would really like to build more muscle. I know my diet is the problem so I asked my nephrologist how much protein I am allowed to take in one day with the state of my kidneys. He told me about 70 grams of protein total. I am at a loss. Is there a way to build more muscle without a huge amount of protein?
I guess the real question would be “what if it’s not possible?” Are you going to ignore your nephrologist, potentially accelerate ESRD, and die? I think you’ve been handed your constraint, so you’ll build whatever you build.
That said, certainly you can build muscle on lower protein, and we’ve seen many real-world examples. It will probably be a little slower and more difficult, but that’s the hand you’re currently dealt.
With all that said, does he have you working with a dietician? The recommendations are constantly being researched and challenged, and you’ve got a lot going on with your metabolic health.
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I absolutely will not ignore him. I would much rather keep my kidneys. I was just wondering if it was even possible with different types of foods rather than protein. If not, it is what it is.
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You can still build muscle with 70g of protein: just not as well as you could with more.
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Would amino acids be beneficial? My friend had one functional kidney and his nephrologist said they were fine. I speak in past tense as we no longer keep in touch.