Published: May 21, 2012

The University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System led by Dr. Jose Oberholzer, joined a coalition of healthcare organizations lead by MinuteClinic to help raise awareness about diabetes at a school on Chicago’s South Side. Students at Perspectives Charter School Calumet Campus participated in the screening throughout the week of May 14th and will be offered follow up care if they are diagnosed with pre diabetes or diabetes. Volunteers from UI Health provided the BMI screenings, and if a child had a high BMI then nurses from MinuteClinic did a finger stick test to measure blood glucose.

A highlight for many of the students was an appearance by Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. Cutler has type 1 diabetes, and runs his own organization which benefits children with the disease. His appearance brought nearly 10 media outlets to the event - raising even more awareness about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and getting screened for diabetes.

As of Thursday morning over 160 kids ranging from 6th grade to high school seniors were tested.  The results show a significant need for continued education and screening.

  6th grade 13 of 21 were higher than 85th percentile = 62% with high BMI.
  7th grade 17 0f 40 were higher than 85th percentile = 43% with high BMI.
  8th grade 10 of 21 were higher than 85th percentile = 48% with high BMI.
  High School 31 of 78 higher than 85th percentile = 40% with high BMI.

Dr. Oberholzer and his team will be going through each screening result and providing the ACCESS clinic with the names of students who need to set up follow up appointments.

The representatives from the Greater Auburn Gresham Community Center and ACCESS Health Clinic located within the school see a great need for continued education and after school programs to help these children become more active and make healthier life style choices.  Educators thought the event was exceptionally successful at improving access to healthcare for the kids and their families, and they were exited to be partnering with the University of Illinois Health System.

The University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System provides high quality care to those who need it most. As part of the UI Health System’s community outreach initiatives, physicians and nurses will continue to focus on educating and providing care for those with health disparities like diabetes.

Full article: http://hospital.uillinois.edu/News/Diabetes_Awareness_in_Chicagos_South_Side_.html