The easiest way to manage your fluid balance is to weigh yourself and compare your actual weight to your target weight.

Our bodies are made up of flesh and fluid. The flesh is the solid parts of the body, such as bones and muscles. The fluid is the watery parts of the body, such as saliva and blood. Men have around 60% fluid and 40% flesh in their bodies. Women have around 55% fluid and 45% flesh.

Target weight is your weight with no excess fluid, but just the right percentage of fluid to solid flesh, at normal blood pressure. Your doctor or nurse will set this weight for you. You should try to keep your weight at this target level.

If you drink one liter of water, tea, coffee or other liquid your weight will go up by one kilogram (1 liter of water weighs 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds) until you pass the fluid out in your urine.

You can assess your fluid balance by weighing yourself each day at the same time of day. If you weigh more than your target weight you probably have excess water in your body. If you weigh less than your target weight you are probably lacking in fluid.

The imbalance should be corrected. You should return to, and stay at, your target weight.

If you exceed your target weight you should drink less. Your body will not be able to reduce the amount of excess fluid if you are drinking too much, because your kidneys are no longer working properly.

Ask your dietitian or renal team if you are not sure what to do. They will monitor your target weight very closely to maintain your fluid balance and ensure you stay as healthy as possible. Your dialysis may need to be adjusted. Follow their advice.