Private MD News

Group calls for seniors to seek diabetes testing

Category: Diabetes

Insulin testing may help older individuals find out if they have type 2 diabetes, a potentially devastating condition that affects many elderly. Despite the fact that Medicare recipients over age 65 are eligible to receive annual testing, few people take advantage of these services.

In an effort to spread the word about the importance of diabetes screening, the Medicare Diabetes Screening Project recently recruited National Basketball Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins to help inform seniors of their testing options.

Wilkins knows how hard it can be to live with type 2 diabetes. He, his mother and his aunt all have the condition. He said that testing is vital because it can be much easier to control the disease when it is diagnosed in its early stages.

"I'm teaming up with the MDSP to help spread the word about the importance of screening, detection and prevention of diabetes," he said. "My mom, aunt and I all have diabetes, so I understand how serious this disease can be. But if you can get a jump on diabetes by getting screened, you can take steps to prevent or control diabetes."