Low-Cost Diabetes Screening

A note from Allina Hospitals and Clinics.

Unity and Mercy Hospitals are providing screening tests for type II diabetes, a disease that affects all ages and cannot be diagnosed by symptoms alone. More than 24 percent of people with diabetes don’t know they have it.

“These tests are important because it can detect diabetes early enough so people can take steps to prevent complications such as blindness, foot amputation and heart disease,” said Brenda Link, wellness programs manager.

The screening, which costs $10, includes a short questionnaire, blood pressure measurement, body mass index (BMI), fasting total cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol), triglycerides (a type of fat), glucose (blood sugar) and hemoglobin A1C.

A 12 hour fast is required. Registrants should take any prescribed medications with a small amount of water and abstain from alcoholic beverages and a high fat diet for 48 hours prior to screening.

The $10 diabetes screening will be held in the Unity Hospital Board Room on the lower level. Sign up at allina.com/classes or call 1-866-904-9962  

Follow up education sessions includes a presentation about pre-diabetes and diabetes. In addition, staff will be available to counsel patients on their results.  The Unity Hospital session will be from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the Unity Hospital Board room on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011.