TN~Free Diabetes Screening

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Free diabetes screening at MTMC
March 27

The highest rates of diabetes are across the South with Tennessee ranking near the top of the list.

Nationwide, 7.8 percent of the population – 23.6 million people – has diabetes, but according to the Trust for America’s Health, that rate is higher in Tennessee with 10.6 percent of adults diagnosed with diabetes. That translates into roughly half a million Tennesseans. Unfortunately, nearly one-quarter of these people do not know they have diabetes because they haven’t been diagnosed.

The Diabetes Center at Middle Tennessee Medical Center will offer free blood glucose diabetes screenings on Friday, March 27 from 9 a.m. to Noon. In addition, free peripheral artery disease testing and eye exams will be available during the same time. The eye exam testing is for uninsured patients only and made possible by a grant from the Center for the Blind. Appointments must be made in advance for all screenings. To schedule an appointment, call the Diabetes Center at (615) 895-9475. Financial counselors will also be on hand to assist anyone who may need assistance enrolling in TennCare or qualifying for other charitable or government-based care.

Early diagnosis is critical to successful treatment and delaying or preventing some of diabetes’ complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation and death.

“Diabetes is a substantial concern for Tennesseans where we have alarming high rates of obesity and physical inactivity,” said Mary Gaines, director of the Diabetes Center at MTMC. “Early diagnosis and prevention are the keys to living a long productive life with diabetes. For those who have diabetes, it’s important to manage it and be aware of complications, such as blindness or peripheral artery disease.”

The Diabetes Center at MTMC offers diabetes education to both inpatients and outpatients that meet the American Diabetes Association and Healthways, Inc. national diabetes practice guidelines.
For more information about the center,
 call (615) 895-9475
or email diabetes.center@baptisthospital.com.