Free Diabetes Screenings Available at Health Fair
It was a busy day at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, Friday. As hundreds of vendors and health professionals set up boots and screening facilities for Saturday’s 32nd annual West Tennessee Health Fair. During the 4-hour fair, everything from body mass index to blood pressure can be checked for free. Also being offered this year, a chance to see if you have or at risk for diabetes. “Diabetes has become an epidemic and we are very strong in trying to help make people aware of their risk for diabetes. We know that 25.8 million people have diabetes, 79 million people have pre-diabetes and one in three people have diabetes and don’t even know it,” said Melissa Walls, co-chair of the West Tennessee Health Fair. “Diabetes is just so prevalent in this area, basically because of the way we eat and our lack of exercise and our so high rate of obesity.” If you plan to get any of the free screenings, Saturday, organizers are asking that you not eat anything after Midnight, Friday. The West Tennessee Health Fair will be held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center from 8 until 12 Noon, Saturday.
