SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
FOR RELEASE: July 8, 2002
CONTACT: Doneen Hollingsworth
605-773-3361

     SIOUX FALLS – Art festivals, rodeos, and fairs are not the only places South Dakotans can go for a free blood glucose and blood pressure screening as part of the second Governor's Diabetes Screening this summer.

     From July through September the screening will also be available at every Department of Health community health nursing office in the state from 8 - 5 on weekdays. To find the office nearest you, check the department web site at http://www.state.sd.us/doh/Address. 

     The department and its partners are working with large events to make the screening available across the state this summer. The goal is to take the screening to the people and make it as easy and convenient as possible to be screened. Screening sites have already been scheduled at events such as rodeos, school reunions, arts festivals, pow wows, and 4-H Achievement Days and more are planned.

     As they are scheduled, screening sites are posted on the program's web site at www.sddiabetes.net. The site also includes a list of participating partners, a diabetes risk assessment, information about diabetes, healthful recipes and more.

     Of the more than 31,000 South Dakotans screened at last year's event, 8% needed to see a doctor about high glucose and 35% about high blood pressure. Thousands more are at risk for diabetes or high blood pressure but don't know it.

     To find out about organizing a screening in your community contact the department's Diabetes Control Program at 1-800-738-2301 or 605-773-3737.