SOUTH FULTON MEDICAL CENTER TO OFFER FREE EDUCATION, AND SCREENINGS DURING NATIONAL DIABETES MONTH

East Point, Georgia -- Monday, September 30, 2002– In recognition of National Diabetes Month in November, South Fulton Medical Center will be providing education and screenings to help combat a disease affecting more than 15 million people in the United States. The program is part of South Fulton Medical Center 's continuing effort to improve health through preventative medicine and education.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that of these 15 million people, about a third remain undiagnosed. An additional 798,000 people will be diagnosed with diabetes in the United States in 1999. Diabetes is one of the top ten causes of death in the United States, and the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease and new cases of blindness.

"Although diabetes can be associated with serious complications and premature death, persons with diabetes can take measures to reduce the likelihood of such occurrences," said Christine Russell, RN, CDE, South Fulton Medical Center's Clinical Diabetes Educator. "The first step is diagnosing diabetics who have the disease and don't know it, and the second step is to educate them about treatments and lifestyle changes that can help reduce the risk of serious complications. South Fulton Medical Center can help them through this process."

The most common form of diabetes is Type 2. Risk factors include older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, prior history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, physical inactivity and race/ethnicity. African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians and some Asian

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Americans and Pacific Islanders are at particularly high risk for Type 2 diabetes.

South Fulton Medical Center will be holding a free diabetes education and screening on Thursday, November 14 from 8 a.m. until Noon. This event is free and open to the public, walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is preferred. Please call 1-888-888-1872 to register. Other activities include, Thursday, November 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. SFMC will host a Diabetes Holiday Meal Planning session with a nationally recognized Registered Dietician who will discuss diabetic holiday meal options. Sample savory diabetic selections and have your questions answered. This event is free and open to the public, walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is preferred. Please call 1-888-888-1872 to register.

To schedule a screening or request additional information about diabetes, please call (404) 305-4987. Anyone interested in researching diabetes and related issues can visit the American Diabetes Association website at www.diabetes.org.