Shire Pharmaceuticals Extends 'Kidney-Friendly' Cooking Program

11/04/07 Shire Pharmaceuticals announced plans to extend its Kidney Friendly Comfort Foods program by offering a new resource to chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stage 5 patients who also have diabetes. The Kidney Friendly Comfort Foods, Volume II: Eating Well for Chronic Kidney Disease Patients, Including Those With Diabetes cookbook, to be released in June 2007, will include dietary tips from renal dietitian Marianne Hutton and six new recipes from celebrity chef Katie Lee Joel.

Approximately 20 million Americans have some form of kidney disease and almost 500,000 have developed CKD Stage 5 and require dialysis. Many of these patients also have diabetes -- the leading cause of kidney failure in the United States. As more patients are trying to manage kidney disease along with diabetes, there is an increased need for resources that help patients and caregivers address the dietary modifications associated with both conditions.

"My dialysis patients are always struggling to manage their diets, which is even more challenging for those who also have diabetes and are subject to additional dietary modifications than those with CKD Stage 5 alone. I was delighted to have the opportunity to help develop the Kidney Friendly Comfort Foods, Volume II: Eating Well for Chronic Kidney Disease Patients, Including Those With Diabetes cookbook," said Marianne Hutton, R.D., C.D.E., program coordinator and instructor for the Northern California Center for Well-Being in Santa Rosa. "This cookbook is a valuable resource that can help patients take an active role in managing their conditions, while offering tasty, appropriate recipes the entire family can enjoy."

Shire partnered with Hutton and Katie Lee Joel, the first season host of Bravo's hit show, "Top Chef," for the 2007 Kidney Friendly Comfort Foods program. Together, they have worked to build on the success of the 2006 edition of the Kidney Friendly Comfort Foods: A Collection of Recipes for People With Chronic Kidney Disease cookbook, by creating a second edition focused on dialysis patients who also have diabetes. In an effort to provide these patients with healthy and creative meal options, the 2007 cookbook includes an upfront section that offers dietary tips for managing both CKD Stage 5 and diabetes, which was developed by Hutton. It also features 21 new, delicious and easy-to-make recipes, six of which were developed by Katie.

"I was excited to partner with Shire for a second year and share more of my recipes. I want patients to know that cooking kidney and diabetes friendly foods is not a sentence to boring food, and that this cookbook can help make meals more enjoyable for the entire family," said Katie.

Katie is familiar with the dietary modifications required for patients with kidney disease, as her grandfather was a dialysis patient. After her grandfather was diagnosed, the family was worried about his health, while he was more concerned about the restrictions it put on his diet. Katie and her grandmother began to research kidney disease diet restrictions and adapted many of her family's traditional recipes. The results were meals that the entire family could enjoy, while supporting her grandfather's dietary requirements. Katie's delicious Chicken Pot Pie is just one of many recipes that patients have to look forward to in the new cookbook.

"The Kidney Friendly Comfort Foods program is one of many resources Shire is offering the CKD Stage 5 community this year. We know patients often experience difficulties maintaining a low phosphorus diet, especially if they also have other diet restrictions as a result of their diabetes, and are eager to provide new resources to help patients manage their health," said Matt Handel, Shire, product general manager, FOSRENOL U.S.

The Kidney Friendly Comfort Foods, Volume II: Eating Well for Chronic Kidney Disease Patients, Including Those With Diabetes cookbook will be available in June for free by visiting http://www.FOSRENOL.com, or by calling 866-896-6152.