Kidney Disease

Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States. The annual cost of diabetes in 2002 was estimated to be $132 billion, or one out of every 10 health-care dollars spent in the nation. According to Susan Akridge, program manager of Robinwood Endocrinology, the elevated blood glucose associated with diabetes causes damage to the body's cells. It also can lead to complications such as blindness, kidney disease, nerve disease and amputation. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness with 12,000 to 24,000 people a year losing their sight due to diabetes.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- For more than two centuries, the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has endured -- as has the speculation about what led to his sudden death at age 35 on Dec. 5, 1791. Was the wunderkind composer poisoned by a jealous rival? Did he have an intestinal parasite from an undercooked pork chop? Could he have accidentally poisoned himself with mercury used to treat an alleged bout of syphilis? A report in Tuesday's Annals of Internal Medicine suggests the exalted Austrian composer might have succumbed to something far more commonplace: a streptococcal infection -- possibly strep throat -- that led to kidney failure.

A kidney success story Leslie Cochran and Marilee Kerns were saluted in the Maryland House of Delegates on Thursday as part of World Kidney Day. While growing up, Kerns once offered to give her friend Cochran a kidney if she needed it, because of a history of kidney failure in Cochran's family. Later, Cochran needed a kidney and Kerns donated one of hers. Del. Neil C. Parrott, R-Washington, shared that story on the House floor. “I'd like to recognize the heroism of Marilee and the courage of Leslie to go through this hard time and to say that there is hope for kidney disease .... This is a really positive story for Washington County,” Parrott said.

Are you at risk for diabetes? If you are overweight, tired and run-down, or have a family history of diabetes, you could be the one in 50 Americans who has diabetes and doesn't even know it. November is Diabetes Month and a good time to learn about this disease that affects one in 20 Americans. --cont. from lifestyle -- Diabetes is a disease in which the body fails to properly convert sugars, starches and other foods into the energy needed by the body to function properly.

Lee Jenkins was a people person. She touched many lives through her love and concern for others. Her two children describe her as a “solver of problems, counselor without a degree and second mom” to many. “You got her opinion whether you wanted it or not,” said son James “Jimmy” Mills of Hagerstown. “She wasn't afraid to tell you. She was very opinionated.” Daughter Linda Smith of Hedgesville, W.Va., said her mother might not have been famous by the world's standards, but was to those who knew her. Lee Moats grew up in Hancock, raised with six siblings and three stepsiblings.

Living with kidney disease Local people talk about the options By KATE COLEMAN / Staff Writer Photo by KEVIN G. GILBERT / Staff Photographer Kidney disease is among the top 10 causes of death in Washington County. The numbers - about 10 deaths per 100,000 population - are about the same as those for the state as a whole, according to Washington County Health Officer Dr. Robert Parker. Dialysis and transplant technology became available in the early 1970s, says Dr. Eli Roza, a Hagerstown nephrologist - a physician who specializes in diseases of the kidney.

A Western Maryland native will take over as director of the Western Maryland Center on Sept. 8, according to a release from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Cynthia M. Pellegrino, a registered nurse, has been appointed to the post, announced the department's secretary, Dr. Martin P. Wasserman. "Ms. Pellegrino's strong background in rehabilitative care makes her the ideal choice to maintain the history of excellence at Western Maryland Center," Wasserman said in a prepared statement.

Shirley Ann Turner, 66, of 20845 National Pike, Boonsboro, Md., died Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011, at University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Md., after a courageous  battle with kidney disease. Born Jan. 10, 1945, in Washington County, Md., she was the daughter of the late Vick and Anna Mae Miller McSherry. She was a 1963 graduate of South Hagerstown High School. She was employed with Turner Enterprises as promotional manager at Longmeadow Bowl, retiring in 2007. She was a member of Funkstown American Legion Auxiliary.

scottb@herald-mail.com Now that it has received 1,000 doses of the FluMist influenza vaccine, the Washington County Health Department is going to provide immunizations at a clinic Tuesday, Washington County Health Officer William Christoffel said Friday. Earlier this month The Health Department ran out of vaccines, causing it to cancel a childhood influenza immunization clinic, Christoffel said. But while the department has run out of the regular flu shots, it ordered and received 1,000 doses of the FluMist vaccine, which works just as well, Christoffel said.

Health department flu shot clinic Saturday for people at risk A Washington County Health Department influenza and pneumonia vaccine clinic for adults will be offered Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North Hagerstown High School, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. in Hagerstown. The clinic is for people in the Category 1 risk classification, said Pat Firey, program supervisor in maternal/childhood nursing at the health department. Clinic nurses will ask people if they are "well," Firey said.