Free blood glucose testing at Hy-Vee Pharmacy
Hy Vee Pharmacy Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa – Mahaska Health Partnership (MHP) will be providing free blood glucose testing at Hy-Vee Pharmacy on Monday, Nov. 22 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Diabetes is widely recognized as one of the top public health threats facing our nation; however, the disease can be easily managed with early diagnosis. According to the American Diabetes Association, millions of people have diabetes and are not aware.
“The symptoms often develop gradually so people don’t always recognize them,” said Sharon Ferguson, registered nurse and diabetes educator at Mahaska Health Partnership (MHP). “It is estimated that most people with diabetes have the disease from five to 10 years before they are diagnosed.”
Mahaska Health Partnership
Ferguson explained that symptoms of diabetes are often ignored because they are very subtle. “Symptoms can include unusual thirst, a frequent need to urinate, blurred vision or a feeling of being tired for no apparent reason. If people even suspect they have one of these symptoms they should be tested for diabetes.”
The easiest way to test for diabetes is a random blood glucose test. The test requires a small finger prick to draw a drop of blood, and the results are immediately available. On Monday, Nov. 22 from 2 until 5 p.m., Ferguson and a Diabetes Educator from Life Scan, a Johnson and Johnson company, will be conducting free blood glucose testing at the Hy-Vee in Oskaloosa. Hy-Vee Dietician Stephanie Tucker will also be available to showcase opportunities to work with Oskaloosa shopper.
“There is really no reason not to get tested,” Ferguson stressed. “There is no fasting required and it only takes a minute to get the results. Diabetes is a quiet disease that is lurking long before it is diagnosed causing unnoticed side effects and the risk is too great to ignore.”
During the screening, people will have the opportunity to have their blood glucose checked and discuss their results with the diabetes educators. There will also be valuable information available regarding diabetes maintenance as well as follow-up care. In addition, people who are already using a glucose meter can trade in their old meter for a new one at no charge.
“People with diabetes are at a much greater risk for related complications such as blindness, kidney failure and amputations,” Ferguson said. “WELL controlled diabetes is the cause of NOTHING! We are offering everyone an opportunity to be assessed for diabetes and receive free information and tools to treat the disease because early diagnosis is the best weapon.”
For more information about the free blood glucose testing and glucose meter exchange at the Hy-Vee Pharmacy, contact Ferguson at 641-672-3422. No appointment is necessary to attend the screening.
