November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and Atrium Medical Center will hold a free Diabetes and Wound Care Awareness Health Fair open to the community.
Anyone wanting more information about pre-diabetes, how to manage diabetes, and the importance of wound care are welcome to attend the health fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28. The health fair will be held in the main lobby of Atrium, located at One Medical Center Dr., Middletown, OH 45005.
Attendees can meet staff members of Atrium Medical Center’s Diabetes Wellness Center and Wound Care Center and Hyperbaric Services. Also at the event, a blood sugar screening, foot health and general diabetes education will be provided. Fasting is not required for the blood sugar screening.
An estimated 30.3 million people in the United States (9.4 percent of the population) have diabetes, including 7.2 million who are unaware they are living with the disease, according to the American Diabetes Association. The percentage of adults with diabetes increases with age, reaching 25.2 percent of the population ages 65 years or older. There are also 1.5 million people living in the U.S. diagnosed with diabetes every year, according to the association.
Early detection and intervention can help reduce the possibility of limb loss and complications of diabetes. The Wound Care Center at Atrium recommends the following to help prevent diabetic foot ulcers:
- Stop smoking immediately
- Get a comprehensive foot examination each time you visit your health care provider (at least four times a year)
- Inspect your feet daily, either by yourself or with the help of a family member
- Care for your feet regularly, including cleaning toenails and taking care of corns and calluses
- Choose supportive, proper footwear (shoes and socks)
- Take steps to improve circulation such as eating healthier and exercising on a regular basis
Learn more at premierhealth.com.