Free diabetes screening planned

ROBIN DOYLE
Community Relations
Coordinator
Hannibal Regional Hospital

November is American Diabetes Month and Hannibal Regional Hospital’s Diabetes and Wound/Ostomy Center will be offering a free diabetes screening on Nov. 24.  The screening is open to the public.  Two sessions will be held that day: from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Hannibal Regional Hospital and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Diabetes Center at Chapel Hill (formerly HROC), 109 Virginia St.  The screening includes a non-fasting random blood glucose reading, blood pressure and foot exams.  No appointment is necessary.
Diabetes is one of the biggest public health concerns of the 21st century and it continues to grow to epidemic proportions. Chances are you know someone with diabetes. Nationwide there are 23.6 million people with diabetes of which 5.7 million are undiagnosed.  Having diabetes places a person at increased risk for a number of serious, even life-threatening complications, including:
• Heart disease and stroke - Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates two to four times higher than adults without diabetes.
• Blindness - Diabetes the leading cause of blindness in adults ages 20-74.
• Kidney disease - Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure.
• Amputations - More than 60 percent of non traumatic lower-limb amputations occur in people with diabetes.
What can you do?
Take someone who is at risk to be tested.  The National Institute of Health recommends that anyone over the age of 45 be tested.  Consider these questions: Are you overweight? Do you have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes? Is your family background African American, American Indian, Asian American, Pacific Islander, or Hispanic? Have you had gestational diabetes or had a baby greater than 9 pounds? Are you inactive? Is your blood pressure 140/90 or higher? Is your cholesterol level normal, the HDL or good cholesterol 35 or lower or your triglyceride level 250 or higher? If you answer yes to one or more of these questions consider being tested for diabetes.
Join a support group.  The Hannibal Regional Hospital has a diabetes support group that meets the first Wednesday of each month at the Chapel Hill Building (formerly Hannibal Regional Office Center) between 7 p.m. and 8  p.m.
Start to exercise. The recommendations are 30 minutes of moderate exercise three times a week.
Take a diabetes education class. Hannibal Regional Hospital Diabetes and Wound/Ostomy Center offers diabetes self management classes at various times and days weekly.
Educate others about the basics of diabetes so that they understand the challenges of diabetes management.
Diabetes is controllable with self management and education.  Call Hannibal Regional Hospital’s Diabetes Center (573) 406-1298 for more information.