Ministry Medical Group to Offer Free Diabetes Screenings in Rib Mountain on December 10
The prevalence of diabetes has been increasing over the past 25 years with more than one and a half million newly diagnosed in 2007.
According to the American Diabetic Association, more than 8-percent of children and adults in the United States have diabetes while nearly six-million people are unaware they have this disease.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.
In an effort to aid in the early detection and prevention of diabetes, Ministry Medical Group in Rib Mountain will provide free diabetic screenings on Wednesday, December 10 from 3 to 6 p.m. at 3301 Rib Mountain Drive.
Ministry Medical Group Family Medicine Specialist Bruce Homa, M.D., and clinical dietitian Heather Schuette will join with Podiatrist Dr. Jeff Chism, from Advanced Foot and Ankle Center to offer blood pressure and blood sugar testing, foot examinations, nutrition information and diabetes consultation.
“Diabetes is a condition that if detected early, it can be managed and treated effectively,” said Ministry Medical Group Family Medicine Specialist Bruce Homa, M.D. “These screenings will provide a valuable resource for those who might have questions or have a family history of diabetes.”
Diabetic nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy can cause numbness in the feet; persons unable to feel cuts and blisters are more likely to get sores and infections. Unnoticed or untreated sores can become deeply infected, and may lead to amputation. A sad reality: having a toe, foot, or lower leg surgically removed is 10 times more likely in people with diabetes.
“Foot examinations can play an important role in the early detection of diabetes,” said Chism. “Diabetes can reduce blood flow to your feet, depriving them of oxygen and nutrients, making it more difficult for blisters, sores, and cuts to heal.”
This is a free screening, but advanced registration is requested by calling Ministry Medical Group in Rib Mountain at 715.393.3900.
Ministry Medical Group, the physician-directed division of Ministry Health Care, consists of clinics located throughout northern and central Wisconsin. Multiple locations offer convenient access to quality primary and specialty care services, along with consistently well-managed, cost-effective care.