To help address the growing prevalence of diabetes, Mount Desert Island Hospital is hosting a free diabetes risk screening at the MDI YMCA on Wednesday, Feb. 27 from 4-7:30 pm.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in three adults in the U.S. is at risk for developing diabetes, and many who are pre-diabetic may not be aware of that risk. “Once we know someone is at risk of this disease, we can work with them to prevent it,” said Lynne Assaf, one of MDI Hospital’s diabetes team members.
The screening at the YMCA includes a simple diabetes risk questionnaire. If the score indicates increased risk, a finger stick test will be offered to determine a random glucose level. Those who are screened as high risk will be offered a fasting glucose test and referred to their primary care physician. There is no charge for any of these screenings.
Last May, MDI Hospital received a three-year grant to lead a group of local agencies in the development and implementation of a patient-based program to identify those who may be at risk for diabetes and provide evidence-based methods on finding ways to improve their health. The nearly $450,000 grant from the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is funding outreach and education programs specifically addressing members of the community who are at risk to develop diabetes or whose illness is not adequately managed.
Individuals who learn they are at increased risk for diabetes are offered the opportunity to participate in free diabetes prevention programs. “We show participants how they can cut their risk by losing seven percent of their body weight and increasing their physical activity to 150 minutes per week,” Assaf said. “The program provides the tools they need to make these very beneficial changes.”
Additional screenings at the YMCA are being considered and individuals are welcome to contact Lynne Assaf at MDI Hospital to arrange a personal no-cost pre-diabetes screening by calling 801-5012.