West Columbia, S.C. – Lexington Medical Center will host a free diabetes health fair inside the Michael J. Biediger Auditorium on the hospital campus in West Columbia on Sunday, November 6 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. The health fair will include body fat composition testing, exercise demonstrations, support group information, speakers, chair massages, door prizes and refreshments.
Payton Foust, MD, of Lexington Family Practice Otarre Pointe, a Lexington Medical Center physician practice, will present a diabetes education talk at 3:00 p.m. And, certified diabetes educators from Lexington Medical Center will have information about managing diabetes.
“South Carolina has the fourth highest rate in the nation of diabetes among adults. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. We want to encourage community members to attend this health fair to increase awareness for themselves and their family members, as well as learn how to manage diabetes and live a long, healthy life,” said Gwen Girdler, RN, BSN, CDE, outpatient diabetes educator at Lexington Medical Center.
According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is growing at an epidemic rate in South Carolina and around the United States. More than 576,000 people in South Carolina – that’s 14% of the population – have diabetes. Of those, more than 20 percent do not know they have diabetes – greatly increasing their health risk. Additionally, more than one million people in South Carolina – 37 percent of the adult population of the state – have prediabetes.
Diabetes is a problem with your body that causes blood sugar levels to rise higher than normal. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, where the body does not use insulin properly. Over time, the body is not able to make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at normal levels.
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in South Carolina, responsible for three deaths each day.
The diabetes health fair will be inside the Michael J. Biediger Auditorium at 2728 Sunset Boulevard on the hospital campus in West Columbia from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.on Sunday, November 6. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (803) 936 – 8942.
About Lexington Medical Center
Lexington Medical Center, in West Columbia, S.C., anchors a health care network that includes six community medical centers throughout Lexington County and employs a staff of 6,000 health care professionals. The network also includes comprehensive cardiovascular and oncology care affiliated with Duke Medicine, an occupational health center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas and 58 physician practices. At its heart is the 428-bed state-of-the-art Lexington Medical Center, with a reputation for the highest quality care. Lexington Medical Center has won “Best Hospital” by readers of The State for 13 years, “Best Hospital” by readers of the Free Times, “Best Place to Have a Baby” by readers of Palmetto Parent and The State, the “Consumer Choice Award” from the National Research Corporation and the prestigious “Beacon of Excellence Award” from Press Ganey for outstanding patient satisfaction. Visit LexMed.com
