Diabetes screening scheduled at Hall County Health Department

GAINESVILLE – Come and learn about your risk for diabetes on Tuesday, November 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Hall County Health Department. Mandy Reese, PharmD, CDE will be conducting the free diabetes screenings in the front lobby area of the health department. Because the test for diabetes checks glucose (sugar) levels in the blood, persons should fast or wait at least two hours after eating before having the test done to get the best results. Persons who should be screened for diabetes are individuals who fall into the risk groups for the disease. This screening is not for individuals who know they are diabetic and want to have a blood sugar test done.

Groups that are particularly at risk for diabetes are:
• Persons with a family history of diabetes (parents or siblings),
• Persons with high blood pressure,
• Persons with elevated cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels,
• Persons who are obese (20% over ideal body weight),
• Persons who are African American, Hispanic, Native Indian, Asian, and Pacific Islanders,
• Women who have delivered a baby weighing 9 lbs. or more at birth,
• Persons over 45 years of age.

Many people ignore the signs for diabetes and go as long as seven to ten years before being diagnosed with the disease. Early diagnosis is critical to successful treatment of diabetes and delaying or preventing some of its complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation and death.

People with diabetes can reduce the occurrence of complications by working with their health care provider and following preventative care practices. These practices include following a careful diet, exercising properly, losing excess weight, and in some cases using diabetes specific medications.