Nine out of ten people at risk for type 2 diabetes don’t even know they are at risk. Additionally, 25% of people who already have diabetes have not yet been diagnosed. Providing education to help those in danger lower their risk is St. Francis Hospital’s goal next Tuesday, March 28, which is Diabetes Alert Day.
 
Held the fourth Tuesday of March every year, American Diabetes Association Alert Day is designed to sound the alarm about the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in American adults by asking America to take the American Diabetes Association Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test.
 
St. Francis is offering free screenings at three locations next Tuesday through its Health Matters Diabetes Program, the only American Diabetes Association certified education program in the region.  They include:
 
·         St. Francis Hospital’s front lobby, 2122 Manchester Expressway, from 9-11 a.m.

·         St. Francis Columbus Clinic front lobby, 610 19th Street, from 8-10 a.m.

·         St. Francis Urgent Care, 3465 Macon Road, from 8-10 a.m.
 
Pre-registration is not required, but fasting is recommended.
 
Additionally, the free risk test is also available online via the hospital’s website, according to Katherine Hines, BS, RD, CDE, LD, Outpatient Diabetes Manager for St. Francis Health Matters program. “The risk assessment includes a series of questions about family history and lifestyle choices that can increase risk of diabetes.  By taking the quiz or talking with us on Tuesday, participants can learn if they’re at risk for type 2 diabetes in less than a minute or two.”
See more at:  ADA Diabetes Risk Test
 
“Knowing your risk is the first step toward a healthier life,” said Dr. Henry Ngo, a board-certified internal medicine physician and proponent of providing education to help patients manage diabetes. “And, if you have diabetes, managing your blood glucose is essential in lowering your risk for heart disease and stroke. Some groups have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than others. Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as the older population.”