Memorial Medical Center to host Diabetes Awareness Fair

[November 07, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- As part of World Diabetes Day, Memorial Medical Center will host a free diabetes awareness fair, "Diabetes: A World of Care," from noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 14 in the hospital's Wedeberg Conference Center. The event is open to the public.

There are nearly 26 million children and adults in the U.S. with diabetes. Another 79 million people have pre-diabetes, or are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Visitors attending the fair will have the opportunity to learn about diabetes care and control by visiting more than 25 booths that focus on healthy eating, monitoring, problem-solving, being active, taking medication, healthy coping and reducing risks.

Blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, body mass index and body fat screenings will be available at no cost. Free hemoglobin A1c tests, which measure a person's average blood sugar level over the previous two to three months, will be available to the first 100 participants.

Fitness professionals from the YMCA, Fitness Together, Fit Club, Zumba and Memorial's SportsCare will provide interactive fitness demonstrations every half-hour. There will be raffles, giveaways and cooking demonstrations throughout the afternoon.

Memorial's Health for Life and iNDEPth Nutrition and Diabetes Education Program are partnering to sponsor the fair.

Registration is not required. For more information, call 217-788-3474.

Memorial Medical Center is at 701 N. First St. in Springfield. The Wedeberg Conference Center is on the hospital's lower level, near the main entrance. Parking is available in the hospital's visitor parking lots across from the main entrance, at Miller and First streets.

[Text from file received from Memorial Medical Center]