If you have type 2 diabetes or chronic kidney disease, it may be hard to figure out what to eat. Your doctor can help you with your diet by monitoring your levels of vitamins and minerals.

Nutrition labels tell you what vitamins are in your food. Understanding nutrition labels can help you plan your meals and shop for food more efficiently.

When you are eating to manage T2D and CKD, you should look for nutrition labels that say “lower your risk of heart disease.”

A nutrition label with information about different nutrients.

Nutrition labels are standard on packaged foods. They help you understand what vitamins are in the food.

The serving size tells you how much food you can eat.

You can eat more or less than one serving, which will increase or decrease the amount of vitamins and minerals you eat.

The ingredients are listed in order from lightest to strongest.

The product has more of an ingredient if it is listed near the top. There are smaller amounts of ingredients further down on the list.

Sodium

When we talk about salt, we are really talking about the component of salt called sodium. Many packaged foods have added salt.

If you have CKD, you may need to limit your sodium intake. Look for foods with less than 10 percent DV.

Too much sodium can also raise your blood pressure and increase your risk of heart disease.

Protein

There are many sources of meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, eggs, beans, nuts, and seeds.

Maintaining your muscle health is dependent on the amount ofProtein. The amount of meat eaten is important. Too much or too little can affect your health.

Talk to your doctor or a nutrition expert about the right amount.

Phosphorus

Many foods have trace amounts of Phosphorus, including dairy products, meats, and meat alternatives.

“Everyone with CKD doesn’t need to limit the amount of phosphorus. You and your healthcare team can track your blood levels with regular blood work.”

If you have been told to lower your phosphorus levels, look for products with less than 15 percent DV.

“If you have CKD, avoidphosphate Additives. These are very hard on your body’s organs.”

Products with ingredients that end withphosphate are not good to avoid.

Potassium

Fruits, vegetables, and nuts are some of the foods that have high levels of the mineral.

“If you have chronic bronchitis, you will likely have regular blood work done to check your levels of the bronchitis-causing bronchitis-causing bronchitis-causing bronchitis-causing bronchitis-causing bronchitis-causing bronchitis-causing bronchitis-causing bronchitis-causing bronchitis-causing bronchitis-causing bronchitis-causing bronchitis- If your levels are in your target range, you don’t need to restrict your potassium.”

If your levels tend to be high, you may need to lower your potassium levels by choosing foods with less than 6 percent DV of potassium.

Carbohydrates

Many people with T2D monitor their carbohydrate intake. Your doctor can tell you what amount of carbohydrates is recommended for you.

Sugars

There may be natural sugars in products.

If you have T2D, sugars can raise your blood sugar levels, which can be bad if you have natural sugars.

Saturated fat is found in the blood and can be raised by sugar. High triglycerides are a risk factor for heart disease.

There is no daily value for sugars because they can be found in foods such as fruits and dairy products.

For added sugars, look for products with little or no added sugar, with 5 percent or less DV, whenever possible.

Fiber

Whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables are some of the foods that have fiber in them.

Fiber can help you manage cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Generally, higher fiber foods are healthier. Look for foods that contain 20 percent or more DV for fiber.

Many sources of fiber have high levels of both of the two minerals. If you are having trouble eating enough fiber, talk to your doctor or a dietitian.

Saturated fats

Saturated fats are found in higher-fat meats and dairy products and coconut oil. This type of fat may raise cholesterol levels.

High cholesterol levels can increase the risk of heart disease.

“When you are trying to balance T2D, you may find it difficult to manage your diet. It can get complicated if you don’t consider the many vitamins and minerals.”

There is no T2D or CKD diet. If you want to use nutrition labels to help guide your food choices, you should talk to your doctor.