Have you recently been diagnosed with reduced kidney function? Do you have diabetes, hypertension or a family history of kidney disease? Would you like to learn more about kidney disease? If so, the Kidney Beginnings: Live program is for you!

It is estimated that more than 26 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD) with the two leading causes being diabetes and hypertension. In response to a growing need for CKD education, AAKP is pleased to offer Kidney Beginnings: Live, a FREE educational program 
designed to educate individuals about the basics of kidney disease and proper kidney care.

Programs last approximately three hours and feature presentations given by health care professionals including topics such as:

• What the kidneys are and how they function;
• Managing conditions that lead to CKD;
• Side effects and challenges CKD patients face, such as anemia;
• Diet management and nutrition;
• And much more!

AAKP is pleased to offer the Kidney Beginnings: Live program as an extension of our Kidney Beginnings educational series which includes Kidney Beginnings: The Magazine, Kidney Beginnings: A Patients Guide to Living with Reduced Kidney Function, and Kidney Beginnings: The Electronic Newsletter

Individuals who attend the program receive complimentary educational materials, learn about kidney disease in a welcoming atmosphere and have the opportunity to have questions answered by local healthcare professionals.

For more information about Kidney Beginnings: Live or if you are a health care professional who would like to be a guest speaker, please contact Diana Clynes, Program Manager at (800) 749-2257 or dclynes@aakp.org.

A special thank you to Abbott Laboratories; Amgen, Inc.; and Ortho Biotech Products, L.P., for their support of the 2009 Kidney Beginnings: Live programs.

Please continue to check back for a listing of 2010 Kidney Beginnings: Live locations.