Raising awareness: Kidney disease

To the editor:

I was diagnosed with kidney disease in January 2010. This is the toughest thing that I ever went through in my life, and I want to help others avoid what I am going through.

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Over 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease (CKD), yet only 10 percent are aware they have it. There are more than 450,000 people in the U.S. on dialysis for kidney failure, and Medicare spends over $87 billion on the care of people with CKD. Investment in research and programs to improve early detection, slow kidney disease progression and improve access to kidney transplantation is a cost-effective strategy to improve lives and lower health-care costs.

While Medicare does not require annual approval by Congress, each year federal funding for other kidney disease programs must be appropriated by Congress. Important work is being done at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), and the Health Services and Resource Administration (HRSA) to advance kidney disease research and improve access to kidney transplantation. However, this work cannot continue nor grow without the continued support of our elected representatives.

I hope your readers will ask Congressman Kevin Cramer and Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp to expand federal research to save lives, kidneys and money. Readers can help the cause by reaching out to their congressional representative at www.kidney.org/takeaction.

Aaron Kringler

Fargo