UT Health San Antonio and University Health diabetes specialists and nutritionists will perform tests, check people’s sugar levels and hand out diabetes risk questionaries at separate health fairs this Friday.
The events take place during Diabetes Awareness Month and on World Diabetes Day.
At University Health’s fair, located at its Texas Diabetes Institute at 701 S. Zarzamora St., San Antonio restaurateur Blanca Aldaco will be preparing a diabetic-friendly pozole recipe, with demonstrations and samples available. Doctors will also conduct blood sugar tests and vision screenings.
University Health will also give out turkey vouchers donated by H-E-B and free turkeys to people who complete a round at all the health stations. The fair will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. You can register for the event here.
UT Health San Antonio will also be hosting its own fair, where endocrinologists and dietitians will hand out information and conduct diabetes tests. The fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at UT Health Gateway, located at 8435 Wurzbach Road.
Diabetes happens when the body either can’t produce or can’t make use of the hormone insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels, which comes with an array of negative health consequences, like increased risk for strokes, heart attacks, blindness, amputations and among other ailments.
University Health recently opened a Limb Salvage Clinic to treat blood clots and diabetes before they lead to amputations.
In 2022, 15% of Bexar County residents had diagnosed diabetes, above the state average of 14% and the national average of 12%. Some San Antonio ZIP codes on the West and South sides of the city had rates as high as 24%, according to University Health data.
The vast majority of cases are type 2 diabetes. Genetics, inactive lifestyles and obesity are major factors that contribute to the disease. Healthy diets, regular exercise and staying in a healthy weight range are critical in managing and even reversing the disease.