DIALYSIS AT NATIONAL CONVENTION

by Ed Bryant

Artwork: NFB logo at end of article

During this year's annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind in Atlanta, Georgia (Sunday, July 2, through Saturday, July 8), dialysis will be available. Individuals requiring dialysis must have a transient patient packet and physician's statement filled out prior to treatment. Conventioneers must have their unit contact the desired location in the Atlanta area for instructions, well in advance. NOTE: The convention will take place at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center, in downtown Atlanta.

Individuals will be responsible for, and must pay out of pocket, prior to each treatment, the approximately $30 not covered by Medicare, plus any additional physician's fees, and any charges for other medications.

DIALYSIS CENTERS SHOULD SET UP TRANSIENT DIALYSIS LOCATIONS AT LEAST TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE. THIS HELPS ASSURE A LOCATION FOR ANYONE WANTING TO DIALYZE. There are many centers in the Atlanta area, but that area is quite large, so early reservation is strongly recommended, to avoid long taxi rides!

Here are some dialysis locations:

* DIALYSIS CLINIC INC.–WEST PEACHTREE, 820 West Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30308; telephone: (404) 888-4520.

* GAMBRO HEALTHCARE, 699 Ponce De Leon Ave., Suite 19, Atlanta, GA 30308; telephone: (404) 872-7211.

* GAMBRO HEALTHCARE ATLANTA, 400 Decatur Street, Atlanta, GA 30312; telephone: (404) 577-9097.

* GAMBRO HEALTHCARE, 524 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30308; telephone: (404) 249-1563.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SCHEDULE DIALYSIS TREATMENTS EARLY, TO ENSURE SPACE. If scheduling assistance is needed, have your dialysis unit's social worker contact me: Diabetes Action Network President Ed Bryant; telephone: (573) 875-8911. See you in Atlanta!

Remember that you can have microalbuminuria (small amounts of the protein albumin in the urine), a sign of early kidney disease, even without elevated blood pressure. Preliminary data on Teveten suggest it has beneficial effects on reducing urinary protein excretion in proteinuric patients, thus may be of benefit in preserving renal function, where progressive renal disease is present. The researchers, and Teveten's manufacturer, Unimed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., stress these renal findings are positive but preliminary.

If you have diabetes and kidney disease, or diabetes and hypertension, ask your doctor about Teveten. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1997 for the treatment of hypertension, it is available now.