Dealing With Diabetes: Slideshow and Video Friday, November 18, 2011 Chia Chao Lo is a Laotian emigrant living in Sanger, CA. He undergoes water dialysis several times a day after his kidneys failed.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio Diabetic Chia Chao Lo teches his daughter a variety of subjects at their home in Sanger, CA.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio The Lo family grows much of their own food on their property in Sanger, CA. The Lo family has focused on healthier eating since the diagnosis of Chia Chao Lo.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio Hmong immigrant Pa Vang Lo harvests vegetable from her garden. She gardens on her neighbor's property as well to prepare healthy meals for her family, including her diabetic husband.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio Pa Vang Lo washes husked corn, grown at her home, to prepare for her family.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio Pa Vang Lo washes food while preparing lunch.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio Pa Vang Lo prepares lunch for her family at her home in Sanger, CA.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio The Lo family eats eats together at their home in Sanger, CA. They eat traditional Hmong dishes, but with some healthier substitutes, such as brown rice instead of white rice.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio Diabetic Chia Chao Lo fell asleep with his leg touching a space heater, not feeling it since he lost feeling in his legs due to neuropathy. He was badly burned and was at risk for losing his leg.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio Native-American Eddie Mendez poses in his apartment. He is a diabetic and lost his leg due to complications with his condition.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio Native-American Diabetic Eddie Mendez watches television to pass the time in his apartment. He spends much of his time in dialysis and volunteering with meals on wheels.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio A recovering drug-addict, eddie takes a variety of medications to treat his diabetes and digestive issues.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio Eddie Mendez suffers from neuropathy in his legs and was unable ot feel his leg burning. The burn was severe and led to an infection. The infection led to him losing his leg after he developed gangrene.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio Eddie Mendez now has a prosthetic leg after an amputation that was caused by a severe burn he was unable to feel due to diabetes-induced neuropathy.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio Eddie Mendez has to undergo dialysis 3 times each week after his kidneys failed as a complication of his diabetes.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio The DaVita dialysis center is one of thousands in the United States. Diabetics often need dialysis to filter their blood with artificial kidneys after experiencing kidney failure.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio With dialysis treatments lasting 4 hours, 3 time a week, Carolyn watches television to pass the time. She says the food network gives her ideas about healthy cooking.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio Carolyn Jackson is being prepped for her dialysis treatment. The patients are very careful to keep the usual spot for the needle clean as to prevent infection.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio Carolyn Jackson is under constant supervision by both staff and the dialysis machine itself to make sure her blood pressure is at an appropriate level.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio Carolyn Jackson prefers going to the treatment center over home dialysis. She says that it makes her more comfortable to have a staff there in case something goes wrong.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio Carolyn Jackson prefers going to the treatment center over home dialysis. She says that it makes her more comfortable to have a staff there in case something goes wrong.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
