Saint Annes Hospital
Diabetes Educator Rose Couto, R.N, held a diabetes screening event in
the Hospital lobby on March 25, 2014, designated by the American
Diabetes Association as Diabetes
Alert Day. Both Hospital staff and members of the general public
were invited to complete a simple
questionnaire about weight, age, family history and other potential
risk factors for pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes and then had their
blood sugar level tested. Many of those tested were Portuguese-speaking.
"There's a very high incidence of diabetes in the Portuguese
population," noted Ms. Couto, who speaks Portuguese and who
appeared with Frank Baptista and Alfred Alves on Rádio
Voz do Emigrante earlier in the week with hosts Frank Baptista and
Al Alves. Those who tested high on the screening or on the blood sugar
test were referred to their physician for further evaluation. The table
display included a warning to lower
the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages which has been linked
to the incidence of overweight and obesity, risk factors for diabetes. A
similar screening was also held that day at the Southcoast
Hospitals on the same day. Click here for a
one-minute  video.
For more information, contact Anne Ferreira at 508-235-5056. |
|
(Top row,
left and right) Saint Annes Hospital
Valet Jack Oliveira has his blood sugar level tested by Ms. Couto. (Top
row, center) The amount of sugar in common soft drinks is displayed to
help people understand the link with overweight and diabetes. (Row two)
Ms. Couto was available for four hours in the Hospital lobby on Diabetes
Alert Day to test anyone who requested it. (Row three) Diaminta Botelho
and Valdemina Melo pick up copies of literature in Portuguese to learn
about diabetes risk factors. (Bottom row) Sister Mariana stops by and
asks to be tested herself. |
