West Jefferson Provides Glucose Screenings on Diabetes Alert Day

On the fourth Tuesday of every March, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) encourages people to join the Stop Diabetes movement to learn if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

On Tuesday, March 28 West Jefferson health educators joined thousands around the country in observing this special day, providing literature on diabetes and risk factors, offering free glucose screenings and answering questions. The event was held at Laborie's Budget Saver in Marrero. 

The ADA says the disease strikes 29.1 million adults and children in the United States, and one in three Americans have pre-diabetes, which puts them at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is named the “silent killer” because 8.1 million – don’t know they have it. For many, diagnosis may come seven to ten years after the onset of the disease. Therefore, early diagnosis is critical to successful treatment and delaying or preventing some of its complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation and death.

 

03/28/2017