Where 90 percent of African Americans surveyed heard about kidney disease, only 15 percent felt their personal risk for developing the disease was higher than average and fewer knew specifically how to prevent it. This gap in awareness raises serious concern, especially because 44 percent of them had at least one of the major risk factors for kidney disease -- diabetes, high blood pressure or a blood relative with the disease. In addition, only 17 percent named kidney disease as a consequence of diabetes and only 8 percent named it as a consequence of hypertension. These two diseases are the leading causes of kidney failure in the United States and account for 70 percent of kidney failure among African Americans

More than 15 million people, almost six percent of the population, are affected with diabetes, and each year another 800,000 cases will be diagnosed. A variety of life-threatening complications can occur including blindness, kidney disease, nerve disorders, amputation and heart disease and stroke. Atlanta unfortunately makes up a large percentage of these cases.

Georgia has over 200 dialysis units throughtout the state.