A Diabetes Screening and Educational Event in Rural Alabama

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is an increasingly urgent public health issue in the United States. Prevention through early detection and education can help decrease the prevalence and complications of the disease. A nursing faculty member and a postgraduate year one pharmacy resident collaborated to provide diabetes screening and education at a local festival in rural Alabama. The prevalence of diabetes in Alabama is approximately 1.6 times higher than the national average. A glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test is the gold standard for diabetes diagnosis and is relatively quick and inexpensive. At the event, 38 participants received point of care HbA1c testing, results, and counseling. Seven participants had an HbA1c level of 5.7% to 6.4%, which indicates prediabetes, and one participant had an HbA1c level of 6.5% or higher, which indicates possible diabetes mellitus. Many patients were surprised by their results and by the simplicity of the test. The purpose of this article is to describe a cost-effective interdisciplinary educational event to increase diabetes awareness in a rural community.