Portrait of a Healthy Family: Pass the Turkey, Hold the Diabetes

When Yolanda Myers was diagnosed with diabetes at age 17, she was living a lifestyle similar to many Americans ? a lifestyle high in calories and low on exercise. As an African-American woman, Myers was at an increased risk for diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease. Now, at age 39, she suffers from all three.

Her diabetes and high blood pressure led to kidney failure, and she must now rely on dialysis to perform the functions of her kidneys. Diabetes is the number one contributor to chronic kidney disease, accounting for 44 percent of new cases, according to the American Diabetes Association.

In recognition of the American Diabetes Association?s designation of November as ?American Diabetes Month,? Fresenius Medical Care North America, operator of the nation?s leading network of dialysis facilities, encourages people to discuss their health history with family members, especially in regard to diseases like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, which can often be prevented or controlled.

While discussing health problems may not seem like exciting dinner conversation, doctors and health researchers stress the importance of prevention and early detection in dealing with these conditions.

?Because families typically gather at the holidays, it?s a good time to have frank discussions about family illnesses, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. If you can show your nieces and nephews, for example, how diabetes has affected your own health, you may be able to influence them to maintain healthier lifestyles,? said Kathryn McDougall, R.N., M.S., C.D.E and Fresenius? Director of Quality Initiatives.

Fresenius Medical Care offers a free Treatment Options Program to inform at-risk patients and their families about chronic kidney disease and treatments. Sessions are free and open to the public. Call 1-866-4-DIALYSIS (1-866-434-2597) to locate the Fresenius Medical Care facility nearest you.

Though Myers? mother and aunt would both develop diabetes years later, she didn?t know at a young age how the disease would impact her own life. She couldn?t predict that, by age 38, she would suffer nine mini-strokes, endure eight medical procedures on her eyes, lose a leg to infection and would require dialysis three days a week to stay alive.

But Myers, who lives outside Nashville, Tenn., now has a positive outlook. She is determined to spare her 14-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son from a similar fate by discussing their family?s history of these conditions and by encouraging her children to live a healthy lifestyle.

?I talk to my kids about everything,? Myers said. ?I told them that I lost a leg from diabetes. And I tell them to have everything in moderation. I don?t want this to happen to them.?

For more information on the importance of early diagnosis, please visit:

https://www.ultracare-dialysis.com/engine/renderpage.asp?pid=s0007

For tips on talking to friends and family about kidney disease, please visit:

https://www.ultracare-dialysis.com/engine/renderpage.asp?pid=s0114

Dialysis is a life-sustaining process that cleans waste products from the blood, removes extra fluids, and controls the body?s chemistry when a person?s kidneys fail. Dialysis patients typically require treatment on an ongoing basis unless they receive a kidney transplant.

About Fresenius Medical Care North America

Fresenius Medical Care North America is a subsidiary of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, the world's largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because of chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects more than 1,600,000 individuals worldwide. Through its network of 2,297 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatment to approximately 177,059 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the world's leading provider of dialysis products such as hemodialysis machines, dialyzers and related disposable products. Fresenius Medical Care is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FME, FME3) and the New York Stock Exchange (FMS, FMS-p).

For more information about Fresenius Medical Care's U.S. network of more than 1,650 dialysis facilities, visit the Company's website at www.ultracare-dialysis.com. For more information about Fresenius Medical Care, visit the Company?s websites: www.fmcna.com or www.fmc-ag.com.