Free Blood Glucose Screening In Clifton
Next Thursday, November 20th
CLIFTON, NJ – The Clifton Health Department and HUMC-Mountainside Hospital are offering a free blood glucose screening with blood pressure reading on Thursday, November 20, 2014, from 12:30pm-2:30pm at the Clifton Health Department, 900 Clifton Avenue, Clifton.
This community-wide screening is to identify those at high risk for having undiagnosed diabetes. Diabetes experts agree that high-risk individuals should be screened every year. This screening involves a non-fasting finger-stick test and blood pressure reading. A finger-stick test is a simple test using a blood glucose meter to check your blood sugar level. Your results will be given to you at the screening. Patients do not need to fast for this test. Although this test cannot diagnose diabetes, if you have a positive screening test, you will be considered at risk and will be referred to your health care provider for further testing.
Those people who should consider getting screened include those who:
* Have high blood pressure (blood pressure will be checked)
* Have a parent or sibling with diabetes
* Are obese or sedentary
* Are members of ethnic groups with high rates of diabetes including Non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders
* Have high cholesterol
* Have a history of gestational diabetes (had diabetes during pregnancy) or delivery of babies over 9 pounds
The Clifton Health Department will not screen the following: individuals previously diagnosed with diabetes, pregnant women, and individuals under age 18.
“According to the American Diabetes Association, there are over 29 million people in the United States that have diabetes and over 8 million of them are unaware they have the disease. Another 86 million Americans have pre-diabetes, a condition that puts them at serious risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. In fact, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death by disease in the United States and has no cure,” said Jennifer Kidd, Health Educator for the City of Clifton. “Early detection of diabetes is the first step in treating this serious disease.”
Although there is no cure for diabetes, it is treatable through diet, exercise, and medication, if necessary. Find out if you are at high risk for having undiagnosed diabetes by attending the Health Department’s blood glucose screening. This screening is open to Clifton and Little Falls residents only and registration is required. Call 973-470-5760 to schedule an appointment or for more information.
The Clifton Health Department is a contractual health agency serving the Township of Little Falls.
