March 11, 2026
Media Contact: Dr. Zelalem Attlee, Zelalem.Attlee@vdh.virginia.gov.
Protect Your Body’s Engine
The Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District Promotes Diabetes Prevention During National Kidney Month
WARRENTON, Va. – If you think about your body as a car, your kidneys would be your oil filter and fuel pump combined. Just as a car needs clean oil to keep the engine from seizing up, your body needs the kidneys to constantly clean your blood. They remove waste and toxins, so your other organs run smoothly. Kidneys also maintain the right fluid balance and pressure so blood flows properly. Diabetes is like putting the wrong fuel in your car year after year. Eventually the damage catches up to you.
March is National Kidney Month, and the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District is reminding residents that preventing diabetes is one of the most important things you can do to protect your kidney health.
“Your kidneys are essential to keeping your body running strong, and preventing diabetes is one of the best ways to protect them,” said Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District Director J. Carr, M.D. “During National Kidney Month, we encourage everyone to take small steps, like healthy eating, staying active, and regular checkups, to keep their body’s engine running for years to come.”
In the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District, 9.8-11.8% of adults have been diagnosed with diabetes. One in four Virginians has diabetes and doesn’t know it. More than two million adults in Virginia have prediabetes.
The Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District aims to educate and support individuals with diabetes, prediabetes and their families through a variety of programs and partnerships.
You can also click to find a Diabetes Prevention Program or Diabetes Self-Management class near you.
These programs often focus on weight loss and activity, which lowers blood pressure. Like preventing your car from overheating, lowering your blood pressure will prevent the lines from bursting and causing permanent kidney damage.
Don’t wait for a warning light. Schedule your annual exam with your healthcare provider today. Take the risk test and protect your engine for the long haul.
The Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District is here to make your ride as smooth as possible. If you have questions, contact us at www.rrhd.org.
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