GOLDSBORO — UNC Health Wayne is ramping up its fight against diabetes in Wayne County, providing free screenings, education, and a new prevention program designed to help high-risk residents make lasting lifestyle changes.
Billy Tart, coordinator of the Diabetes Health Check Program, says the initiative focuses on finding residents who may not realize they are at risk.
“We go out into the community, do screenings for people that may or may not know they’re at high risk,” Tart explained. “We’re real happy to say that in just a little over a year, we have screened almost 800 people in Wayne County.”
That outreach is critical because 90% of people with prediabetes don’t know they have it.
Screenings include a CDC-approved questionnaire, blood pressure check, and when necessary, a hemoglobin A1C test — a tool used to measure a person’s average blood sugar over the previous two to three months. Thanks to funding from the Wayne Memorial Hospital Foundation, all screenings are free.
Residents can request a screening event at churches, workplaces, or community centers by visiting www.diabeteshealthcheck.org or contacting the program directly.
Awareness Month Highlights Big Progress
Tart shared that October is Diabetes Awareness Month — an ideal time to shine a light on prevention and resources already available locally.
One major milestone is the recent opening of the Center for Nutrition and Diabetes Health at UNC Health Wayne, which brings together all of the hospital’s diabetes care and education services under one roof.
Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has approved the hospital to launch a new Diabetes Prevention Program in January. The evidence-based program focuses on increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, and overall healthy lifestyle habits. Participants will meet weekly for six months, followed by periodic sessions for the remainder of the year.
“This program is intense,” Tart said. “We want people committed to improving their health. Seats are limited, so the sooner people reach out, the better.”
More information and eligibility screenings are available through the Diabetes Health Check website.
