Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers is participating in the Nov. 14 Diabetes Awareness Day in Illinois in cooperation with State Rep. Pam Roth of the 75th District.
Free finger-stick glucose screenings will be offered from 7-9 a.m. in the main lobby at Morris Hospital, 150 W. High Street, Morris, and in Suite 100 at the Morris Hospital Ridge Road Campus, 27240 W. Saxony Dr., Channahon.
House Bill 5003 signed into law this past July designated Nov. 14 of each year as Diabetes Awareness Day in Illinois. The new law provides enhanced diabetes outreach throughout the state, with an estimated 1 in 10 Illinoisans living with diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that estimate is expected to grow to 1 out of every 3 people by the year 2050.
“Seeing as that the risk of having diabetes is on the rise in Illinois, it is extremely important to have your blood checked on a regular basis,” Rep. Roth said. “I urge community members to participate in this free screening and to help get the word out about Diabetes Awareness Day.”
The American Diabetes Association recommends diabetes screenings for anyone over the age of 45. If the results are normal, screenings should be repeated every three years. Screenings are also recommended for individuals younger than age 45 who have a body mass index over 25 and additional diabetes risk factors, such as high blood pressure, a sedentary lifestyle, a history of polycystic ovary syndrome, having delivered a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds, a history of diabetes in pregnancy, high cholesterol levels, a history of heart disease, or having a close relative with diabetes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, diabetes is the condition in which the body does not properly process food for use as energy. When someone has diabetes, their body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes sugars to build up in the blood. This is why many people refer to diabetes as “sugar.”
The seventh leading cause of death in the United States, diabetes can cause serious health complications, including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and lower-extremity amputations.
A 10-12 hour fast is recommended prior to the screening for accurate results. Instant results will be provided. Clinicians from Morris Hospital will also be on hand to provide education and answer questions.
Morris Hospital will serve community members who participate in the screening on a first come, first serve basis, with no appointment needed.
For information, call Morris Hospital’s Public Relations office at 815-705-7009.
