The new Liberty Dialysis Clinic located in Koko Marina Center has apparently received certification by the State after a long wait. More and more dialysis patients are using the facility in Hawai’i Kai. A casual observation of some of the patients was made last Monday in the afternoon. Dialysis patients are normally in the clinic for about eight hours, so they exit the clinic late in the afternoon.
As to be expected the demographics of dialysis patients is fairly homogeneous: senior citizens most likely over 55 years of age, significantly overweight (i.e., obese), and obviously diabetic. Several patients were amputees as well. Diabetes is fairly prevalent amongst the senior citizen population.
Granted, the human body wears down with age, which makes it susceptible to chronic and terminal diseases. However, a poor diet, sedentary life-style, and obesity tends to accelerate the onslaught of diabetes. In other words, diabetes is fully preventable if body weight is kept in check with healthier diets and regular exercise. Everyone who is living in denial needs to stop by the local dialysis clinic for a “reality check.”