Family Care Clinic chosen for study

The Family Care Clinic in Decorah has been selected by The National Kidney Foundation to participate in a national research study grant. 

The research project will study the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in patients living with type 2 diabetes, will determine the extent and rate of kidney damage, will study the role of primary care providers in offering preventative treatment for kidney disease, will analyze the patients' awareness of potential kidney harm, will evaluate cost-effective treatment options, and finally will study the genetic tendencies.

According to a recent study done by the Center for Disease Control, there are approximately 23.6 million Americans with diabetes, of which nearly 95% are patients with type 2 diabetes.  Projections for the future impact of diabetes state  that by the year 2050, as many as 1 in 3 Americans will be living with diabetes. 

The National Kidney Foundation is the premiere organization dedicated to improving care and research related to kidney disease.  Said Family Care Clinic's Dr. David Heine, the chief facilitator of the grant, "This research should be of interest to us all.  If we can outline cost-effective preventative treatment options for patients, we not only help those patients live longer and with a better quality of life, but we also are helping to be thoughtful of how our health care dollars are allocated."