As I reviewed your list of nutritionists and checked their specialties I am not finding kidney issues as a specialty. Are there specific credentials or degrees I should look for?

A Registered Dietitian, RD is the most important credential. All Registered Dietitians have extensive training that includes a bachelors degree in nutrition, a clinical internship that covers all major medical conditions, including kidney disease and must pass a national accreditation board test, which includes proficiency in kidney disease. After working over 2000 documented hours with people living with kidney disease, dietitians can take and pass an extra national board exam and become a Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition (CSR). However many dietitians work in the kidney field and do not have this certification. It is an extra expense and not required to work with people living with kidney disease. Another certification that could distinguish someone that works with people living with kidney disease is CCTD – which stands for Certified Clinical Transplant Dietitian. Dietitians with this certification work with people who need a kidney transplant. Another great resource is your local dialysis company, you could call them and talk with their dietitian and they could possibly direct you to a Dietitian that sees people living with kidney disease in private practice. Also the Dietitians that answer these questions and work closely with the American Kidney Fund have a private practice and are all excellent Kidney Dietitians.