Free Diabetes Screening test at Asda Pharmacy

sarah1972

I was sure that this had been posted previously but nothing comes up on the search? I will merge if anyone does find it previously posted.

http://your.asda.com/news-and-blogs/get-a-free-diabetes-test-at-your-asda-pharmacy?cmpid=afc-_-ghs-_-47868-_-awin%20-_-generic&utm_source=47868&utm_medium=afc&utm_term=generic&utm_content=awin&utm_campaign=ghs

Get a free diabetes screening test at your Asda Pharmacy

Recent reports suggest that 700,000 people in the UK are set to have diabetes by the end of the decade – but new research for Asda shows that more than half of people don’t see it as a health concern.
That’s one of the reasons we’re offering free diabetes tests for customers and colleagues at our 253 Asda Pharmacies nationwide. There’s no need to make an appointment – you can simply pop in as you do your weekly shop.

The blood glucose test, carried out at Asda by trained pharmacy colleagues, measures the amount of glucose in your blood at the time of the test. While this test does not diagnose diabetes, a positive screening result highlights the possibility the patient may be at risk and offers the opportunity for them to seek the correct medical advice.
Our latest research shows that more than one in 10 (13%) people don’t know what diabetes is. There is also confusion about the causes, even among people who suffer themselves, or know someone has been diagnosed with it.
Some 40% of people in the UK incorrectly believe eating sugary foods, a virus or fasting for long periods of time causes diabetes – of which all are myths.
Type 1 diabetes is a non-preventable disease and the causes are not known. Type 2 diabetes – the most common form – is associated with multiple risk factors, including having a close family history of diabetes, being overweight or obese (if your waist is 31.5 inches or over for women; 35 inches or over for Asian men and 37 inches or over for white and black men), having high blood pressure or having suffered a heart attack or stroke. Full details about the risk factors associated with diabetes can be found on the Diabetes UK website.
Faisal Tuddy, deputy superintendent pharmacist at Asda, said: "It is worrying to discover people still aren’t clued up to the causes of diabetes, especially when statistics from Diabetes UK and the NHS prove we’re a nation at risk.
“We offer free blood glucose screening and advice to our shoppers, which can help indicate the likelihood someone has, or is at risk of developing diabetes in the future. We’re testing over 1,000 shoppers a month and aim to educate people about diabetes and raise awareness nationwide.”
We’ve been offering customers blood glucose screening since 2007 and test more than 1,000 shoppers every month. 13,400 tests were carried out in 2012

Store locator http://storelocator.asda.com/#!/

Savethekipper

I think this is a useful tool but speaking as a diabetic would like to warn people that this sort of test would not be very accurate and would only give an indication of whether you may or may not suffer from diabetes.

This sort of finger pricking test is GREATLY affected by what you may or may not have eaten in the couple of hours before you have the test.

System

i think this is more of a marketing ploy than anything else.
I was diagnosed as diabetic after 3 fasting blood tests how many people are going to have not eaten for hours before this test? no doubt in the testing area there will be a whole host of sugar free products.

bajangal

For anyone who don't have a local Asda pharmacy, you can also get tested free at any Tesco pharmacy.

lolly5648

CHRISSYG wrote: »

i think this is more of a marketing ploy than anything else.
I was diagnosed as diabetic after 3 fasting blood tests how many people are going to have not eaten for hours before this test? no doubt in the testing area there will be a whole host of sugar free products.

My doctor sent me for a glucose blood test as she thought I had had some hypos but I was not told that it should be a fasting one. The nurse never asked when I last ate.

Savethekipper

lolly5648 wrote: »

My doctor sent me for a glucose blood test as she thought I had had some hypos but I was not told that it should be a fasting one. The nurse never asked when I last ate.

There are various types of tests for diabetes. Usually you have a fasting blood sugar test, othertimes it is a glucose tolerence test. Hope you got good results.