Free Blood Glucose Test Launched in WRCC

Reported by WCSA 2022-09-20

On September 20, the walk-in free Blood Glucose Test service was officially launched by the Winnipeg Chinese Senior Association (WCSA). “This is one of the three elements of the Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Program”, Ms. Yan Jiang, the President of WCSA said, “and the other two are healthy eating and fitness exercise. This program will positively improve the quality of life and prolong the life expectancy for the residents in our community”.

Currently, there are more than 11.7 million Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes, and the number is still growing. Diabetes has been proven to significantly shorten lifespan through its well-known complications such as sight loss, amputations, kidney failure, stroke, and heart failure.

Prediabetes is a condition with higher blood sugar than normal, but lower than diabetes. Without proper management, Prediabetes can develop into diabetes.  A worse case is someone has diabetes, but higher blood glucose is undiagnosed and causes discomfort until serious complications arise.

To help potential patients with early detection of high glucose levels, to raise the awareness on diabetes risks, and to delay or diminish the occurrence of its severe complications, WCSA and PAL55+ are working together to provide blood glucose test service in the Whyte Ridge Community Centre to the community members and all the residents.

This walk-in free service is funded by the Government of Manitoba and the New Horizons for Seniors Program by the Federal Government. It runs from September 20, 2022 to March 30, 2023 inclusively. Tests are performed by trained and qualified volunteers every Tuesday (10:00 - 12:00) and Thursday (13:00 - 15:00).

If you have any questions, please email wcsa.wpg@hotmail.com.