There may be a couple of ways to get screened depending on your qualifications.
1.) Contact your county's public health department/health unit. It may be able to provide these services free or at a reduced cost.
2.) Do you qualify for Medicare and have coverage under Part "B"? If so, you may be entitled to up to two free diabetes screenings per year if you meet certain risk criteria. If you are a Medicare beneficiary and wish to be screened for diabetes, ask your health provider to determine your risk factors and whether you qualify for screening(s) through Medicare.
3.) Do you qualify for Medicaid? If so, contact your local Medicaid office and ask about coverage for this type of screening. Since Medicaid varies from state to state, you will need to check with your state's program to determine eligibility and benefits.
4.) Check in your area for health fairs that may include health screenings. Often, schools of nursing, home health agencies, or others will provide blood pressure and cholesterol screenings at these events at no cost. Many times, they include blood glucose (diabetes) testing.
If none of the above options will work for you, contact the county Extension office in your county and ask for any suggestions for local resources where you may get the help that you need.
In addition to lab testing for screening, your health provider may want to know if you have a family history of diabetes. For more information on the importance of developing and maintaining a family health history, visit http://www.extension.org/pages/Know_More_Than_the_Family_Tree;_Know_the_Health_History
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