In recognition of World Diabetes Day, St. Francis Medical Center’s Diabetes Management program will hold a free diabetes education event Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon in the medical center located at 600 Hamilton Ave., Trenton.
The event features diabetic dental and eye exams, blood pressure readings, diabetic foot exams, stress management techniques and blood glucose testing if needed. Dilated eye exams will be provided by Project BEST (Better Eye Health Services & Treatment) of the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Snacks, giveaways and door prizes will also be included.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30.3 million Americans, or 9.4 percent of the U.S. population, have diabetes. Another 84.1 million have pre-diabetes, a condition that if not treated often leads to type 2 diabetes within five years.
In New Jersey, approximately 640,000 adult shave diabetes and it is the eighth leading cause of death in the state. In Trenton, it is reported that diabetes is nearly twice that of the national rate, with about 16 percent of residents coping with the disease.
In addition to increasing a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke, diabetes complications can include neuropathy (nerve damage), hypertension, kidney disease, vision loss and skin infections.
For more information on the Diabetes Day or to schedule a dilated eye exam, call 609-599-6215.