Coping with Kidney Disease: A 12-Step Treatment Program to Help You Avoid Dialysis by Mackenzie Walser

This is the type of book that no one wants to read, but reads by necessity,
probably because a family member is experiencing kidney failure. That said, of
the books I have looked at that deal with kidney disease, which is 2 so far, this is
the better book. Mackenzie Walser has credentials - he is a professor at Johns
Hopkins University's School of Medicine. And while he has an agenda, namely
that a low-protein diet will help stave off dialysis for those with end-stage renal
disease, that conclusion seems reasonable given all the evidence amassed in the book. '

This book provides a good review of the urinary system, and the causal agents
behind kidney disease. It makes a good case for getting high blood pressure and
blood sugar under control, especially for people in middle-age who haven't gotten
any other life-threatening diseases undermining their health. The book points to
diabetes and hypertension (the diseases that go along with high blood sugar and
high blood pressure) as preventable problems which lead people down the path
to kidney disease. It also makes crystal clear how very dangerous kidney disease
is, and has certainly motivated me to take another look at my eating and exercise
habits!

Walser also explains what kidney patients can do when their condition has gotten
to that point of no return, like dialysis and transplantation. His case studies are
interesting, and my only criticism would be that he doesn't have a chart on every
page (or at least on one page!) of what normal lab levels would be for things like
creatinine and AST. Not being a medical professional, I had to constantly rely on
him to tell me what normal levels were (and what those chemicals indicated
about kidney disease!) However, I don't think other non-medical professionals
thinking about reading this book should be put off by that. The book is still an
invaluable addition to the library of any family with someone in renal failure. It
provides answers to questions they haven't even asked yet, and because of that,
provides ways to keep their loved ones alive longer, which should be the point of
any medical treatment.

Submitted by Gerti