Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center (BLEC) observed National Diabetes Alert Day on Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its location on 1218 Batchelor Street in West Columbia. The one-day event served as a “wake-up call” to inform the public about the seriousness of diabetes. In addition to urging individuals to take the Prediabetes Risk Test, the BLEC provided free A1c tests, blood pressure readings, and brown bag medicine reviews. For the medication
review, attendees were advised to bring their medications and supplements in the original containers.
The BLEC’s National Diabetes Alert Day Event was sponsored by Diabetes Free SC and Molina Healthcare. The BLEC also launched new partnerships with the University of South Carolina’s College of Nursing and College of Pharmacy. Additionally, Operation Diabetes led by student members of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Phar-
macists (APhA-ASP) provided patient care services.
Diabetes occurs when the body’s blood glucose level is
too high. This is caused by a deficiency in the insulin produced by the body, which is the hormone that lets glucose enter cells and
be used as energy. Excess glucose in the blood can lead to several health problems such as heart disease, blindness, and kidney failure. The most common types of diabetes are Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes.
According to health experts, the public should be aware of five important facts about diabetes: (1) diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States; (2) diabetes is a major cause of not just blindness, but also kidney failure, heart attacks,
and strokes; (3) Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90 to 95 percent of diabetes cases; (4) Type 1 diabetes tends to develop early in life; and (5) lifestyle changes like a healthy diet and exercise can drastically reduce the chances of developing Type 2 diabetes.
For more information about the Diabetes Intervention Program (DIP) for Families, please contact Mrs. Sylvia Flint, BLEC’s project coordinator for DIP, at either sflint@brookland.cc or (803) 744-1971.
