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Coast health workers: Thousands on coast have undiagnosed Diabetes

By Danielle Thomas – bio | email

BILOXI, MS (WLOX) - Area health care providers say thousands of coast residents are suffering from a chronic disease and don't even know it. At Edgewater Mall in Biloxi, people got free blood glucose screenings as part of National Diabetes Awareness Month.

Health workers say 29,000 coast residents have been diagnosed with Diabetes, and an estimated 15,000 more have it and don't know it. Left uncontrolled, Diabetes can cause blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and amputations. That's why people need to know the warning signs.

Deborah Colby of Gulf Coast Educators said, "If they think they have a problem, they can take advantage of screenings such as this or visit their physicians if they are experiencing any of the symptoms of Diabetes. Ask them to test them. Frequent thirst, frequent urination, blurry vision, drowsiness, fatigue can be some of the early warning signs.

Gulf Coast Health Educators, Walgreens and the Biloxi Lions Club, which did vision screenings, teamed up for the event.

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