Posted April 19, 2010
About 9.6 percent of the population in Aiken County is diabetic, said Darren Waters, clinical director of the Diabetes and Nutrition Teaching Center at Aiken Regional Medical Centers.
“You’re looking at over 15,000 folks that are diagnosed,” he said.
Aiken Regional is taking steps to prevent the disorder today by offering free glucose screenings for the public. The screenings will be held at the Aiken Mall from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Aiken Regional Medical Centers’ Health Information kiosk.
The event is being held in conjunction with the American Diabetes Association’s Alert Day. According to the organization, Alert Day is a one-day “wake-up” call to inform the public about the seriousness of diabetes.
Currently, 23.6 million Americans are living with diabetes, and one in five people is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, according to the organization. Officials with the ADA said early diagnosis is critical to successful treatment and delaying or preventing complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation and death.
Waters said that, in South Carolina, the prevalence of diabetes increased from 5 percent of the population to 10 percent over the last seven years. Those who are 45 years or older, overweight and have a family history of diabetes and high cholesterol levels are at a higher risk of the disease.
While people with diabetes can exhibit noticeable symptoms, such as frequent urination, blurred vision and excessive thirst, most people with type 2 diabetes do not exhibit the typical warning signs. Often, type 2 diabetes becomes evident only when people develop one or more of its serious complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye damage or nerve damage, which can lead to amputations, according to the ADA.
The screenings will consist of a finger prick and a consultation with nurses at Aiken Regional, Waters said.
Risk factors for diabetes include:
— People age 45 or older with a family history of diabetes.
— People who are overweight and do not exercise regularly.
— Those with low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, high triglycerides and high blood pressure or impaired glucose tolerance.
— Certain racial groups (African-Americans, Latino-Americans, Asian-Americans, American Indians and Alaska natives).
— Women who had gestational diabetes or who have had a baby weighing 9 pounds or more at birth.
Source: Aiken Regional Medical Centers
Date: Mar 23, 2010
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