Mercy Health - Starting Fresh tackles kidney health

        In response to the ever-increasing health issues associated with diabetes, Mercy Health offers a reminder that nutrition is key to managing kidney disease.
        Being diagnosed with diabetes or another chronic disease is a life-changing event. To help patients manage these diagnoses, Mercy Health offers a program focused on providing education, disease management tools and ongoing support and resources.
        Starting Fresh is a five-week program that delves into a different aspect of chronic disease management every week. The primary focus of Starting Fresh is on diabetes and prediabetes, however facilitators adjust the classes as needed to address any other chronic diseases that participants might have.
        “The Starting Fresh program focuses on discussions around what chronic disease is, the role of nutrition, the use of medications, the importance of monitoring your health information, the emotional aspect of having the disease, and much more,” said Susan Zirkel, Community Health Program coordinator, Mercy Health – Healthy Connections.
        Kidney awareness is a good time to think through the impact of diabetes as, over time, high blood sugar from diabetes can damage blood vessels in the kidneys so they don’t work as well as they should. Many people with diabetes also develop high blood pressure, which also can damage kidneys.
        Starting Fresh can help prevent these health complications by giving patients the tools and resources they need in advance. New classes are starting regularly.
        Starting Fresh classes are held on Wednesdays 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Participants who complete the program receive a complimentary three-month membership to the Wayman D. Palmer YMCA.
        Additionally, Starting Fresh Monthly Support Classes, open to those who complete the weekly classes, meets the third Thursday from 12:30-1:30 p.m. via Zoom. The support classes feature guest speakers who focus on topics relevant to those with chronic diseases.
        Anyone who would like to participate in the Starting Fresh program can enroll with a doctor referral, or call 419-251-2463 or email StartingFresh@mercy.com directly to receive the most up-to-date information and dates for the next classes.