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Drive-thru service offered for diabetes screening

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Residents get their blood sugar levels checked at diabetes drive-thru
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  • BY J.R. ORTEGA - JRORTEGA@VICAD.COM
  • Originally published November 11, 2009 at 5:18 p.m., updated November 12, 2009 at 8:25 a.m.

  • QUICK DIABETES FACTS

    In the United States, 24 million children and adults are living with diabetes.

    There are 57 million Americans that are at risk for Type 2 diabetes.

    If trends continue, 1 out of 3 children born this year ...

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    • QUICK DIABETES FACTS

    In the United States, 24 million children and adults are living with diabetes.

    There are 57 million Americans that are at risk for Type 2 diabetes.

    If trends continue, 1 out of 3 children born this year will face diabetes.

    Source: American Diabetes Association

Naomi Lopez and her family pulled into the Citizens Medical Center parking lot Wednesday morning, rolled down the windows of their silver F150, and stuck their hands out to get their blood sugar checked.

It may have seemed like an unconventional place to get blood sugar readings, but the hospital's diabetes drive-thru event has wheeled in several on-the-goers for the quick five-minute check-up.

The small, pen-like finger pricker snapped and a small drop of blood leaked out of Lopez' finger.

"My dad passed away with diabetes," said Lopez, who checks yearly to make sure she is not diabetic. "It runs in the family."

Lopez felt the need to bring her husband and two children to be tested as well, she said.

One of the nurses working the second annual drive-thru came back with a blue piece of paper and handed it to Lopez.

"112," it read.

A look of relief lit across her face.

Lopez was in the clear. A normal reading before meals is between 80 and 120; two hours after meals is 80 to 140; and at bedtime 100 to 140.

Several people had gone through with elevated blood sugar readings, but diabetes educators and goodie bags with Glucerna snacks and dieting and diabetes brochures helped explain how to handle the situation, said James Clifton, HealthWise director.

The event, which drew 90 cars, is held during November because of American Diabetes Month, he said.

The initial purpose of the drive-thru was to have people save time and possibly save their health, which the program has done, Clifton said.

"We know that members of our community are time starved," Clifton said. "They don't have time often to get their sugar levels checked."

Mary Ellen Martinez took seven people from the Amour Adult Day Care to the event.

Martinez has been a diabetic for four years and wanted to see how her blood sugar was, she said.

Her blood sugar was slightly elevated, she said.

It's not easy to maintain a good blood sugar, she added.

Martinez had stumbled across the banner at the entrance of the hospital and decided to get everyone checked.

"I just think it's fantastic," she said of the event.


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