STHS will provide free blood glucose screenings throughout the month of April

SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM PARTNERING WITH KRGV & UTRGV SCHOOL OF NURSING TO OFFER FREE BLOOD GLUCOSE SCREENINGS EVERY FRIDAY IN APRIL

As part of part of KRGV’s Heart of the Valley: Diabetes campaign to empower RGV residents to take charge of their health, STHS Edinburg & STHS McAllen will provide free blood glucose screenings throughout the month of April

In the United States, 38.4 million people have diabetes, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with the incidence rate in the Rio Grande Valley higher than the rest of the nation. From 2012 to 2022, the chronic condition affected 45% of residents in the four-county region, with screening rates exceeding the national average, per the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Due to the high prevalence of diabetes throughout Deep South Texas, education about the dangers of the life-threatening condition and how to prevent, delay its onset or control it are imperative.

Knowing your glucose (blood sugar) levels is crucial. Regular glucose monitoring can help individuals with diabetes track the effectiveness of their treatment plan and make necessary adjustments to medications, diet and exercise, while maintaining blood sugar within a healthy range can significantly reduce the risk of long-term complications associated with diabetes, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and nerve damage.

Meanwhile, regular glucose testing can help identify prediabetes or diabetes before symptoms develop, enabling early intervention and potentially preventing or delaying the onset of the disease.

A normal blood glucose level for a person without diabetes can range from 70 to 99 mg/dL. A blood glucose level from 100 to 125 mg/dL may be an indicator of prediabetes, meaning a person has an increased risk of developing diabetes, per the CDC. If a person’s blood glucose level is 126 mg/dL or higher on more than one occasion, it’s typically a sign of diabetes.

To help Rio Grande Valley residents get accustomed to checking their glucose levels and knowing their numbers, South Texas Health System is partnering with KRGV and the UTRGV School of to offer free weekly blood glucose checks at STHS McAllen and STHS Edinburg throughout the month of April.

“A simple finger prick doesn’t only help you monitor your blood sugar level; it can confirm whether you have type 2 diabetes, even in the earliest stages, long before any symptoms can develop. That’s important in a community like the Rio Grande Valley with a high prevalence of the chronic condition, especially since a sizable portion of the population with diabetes remains undiagnosed, ” says Tom Castaneda, System Director of Marketing and Public Relations, STHS. “Knowing your numbers can quickly alert you that your blood sugar levels are outside of a target range and help prevent an emergency situation.”

Held every Friday in April, the weekly screenings will be conducted in partnership with the UTRGV School of Nursing. Screenings will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the main lobby of STHS McAllen and STHS Edinburg.

South Texas Health System’s weekly screenings are part of KRGV’s Heart of the Valley: Diabetes campaign, which offers a deeper look into the diabetes epidemic in the Valley through on-air and online diabetes-related content.

For more information on the blood glucose screenings, contact the STHS Marketing Department at 956-388-2020 or via email at STHSMarketing@uhsinc.com.

Who: South Texas Health System, KRGV, UTRGV School of Nursing

What: Free Weekly Blood Glucose Screenings

When: Every Friday in April April 4, 11, 18, 25

Where: Main Lobby STHS Edinburg 1102 W. Trenton Rd. Edinburg, TX. 78539 Main Lobby STHS McAllen 301 W. Expressway 83 McAllen, TX. 78503

About South Texas Health System

South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first and only freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.

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