In an all-out drive to uncover unsuspected cases of diabetes more than 60,000 diabetes testing kits will be distributed this week to Louisiana drug stores.
Part of a statewide observance of Diabetes Week, the drive is being sponsored by the Louisiana State Pharmaceutical Association and is being directed by the diabetes detection committee of the Orleans Parish Medical Society.
Druggists, who are members of the Louisiana State Pharmaceuti cal Association, will receive the kits for use by their customers. The women's auxiliary o! the association will have charge of packing and distributing the kits.
Testing Strip
Merlin Wilson, executive secretary of the association, said each kit will contain a testing strip, plus full directions and a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
When a person obtains, a kit he
follows the instructions provided and then returns the test strip to the Loyola school of, pharmacy. Here the strips are tested and results of the tests tabulated.
Saul Schneider, local chairman of the Louisiana, State Pharmaceutical Association, said approximately 3,000,000 persons through out the country suffer from this disease. Of the 3,000,000 he add ed, 1,400,000 people do not even know they have it.
Goal Is Cited
"It is the goal of Diabetes Week to track down as many of these 1,400,000 persons as possible," Schneider explained.
Dr. Robert Haspel. chairman of :h"e Orleans Parish Medical Society's diabetes detection committee, said although diabetes usual-y shows various symptoms it is
still possible for a person to have diabetes without any symptoms,
"A simple test will tell whether or not you have diabetes," the physician added. "Actually the diabetes is seventh in the list of causes of death from disease. If it is promptly detected and treated however, it can be effectively controlled."
Dr. Haspel said diabetes is hereditary; that one out of every four Americans, 45,000,000 persons, are believed to be diabetic carriers.
"They may not have the condition themselves but they can transmit it to their children," the physician explained.
Statistics Given
Dr. Haspel said more than 85 per cent of all diabetics are over 45 years old; that three out of five in this age group are women; that six out of seven were over-
weight when the condition was discovered.
"However diabetes can strike at any age," the physician added. "There have been cases involving a nine-day-old boy and a 99-year-old woman."
The committee chairman said diabetes can be controlled by diet alone or by diet plus insulin. Sometimes, he explained, the insulin can be taken in tablet form.
"If a business firm employs 60 persons," said Dr. Haspel, "there is a good chance one of them has diabetes, known or unknown. The known diabetics are good workers. The unknown diabetics may be poor workers,"
Dr. Haspel said undetected diabetes can lead to heart disease, hardening of the arteries, kidney disorders and many other ailments. Yet almost half of the nation's diabetics do not realize they have the condition, he added. PHOTO: AUXILIARY HELPS IN DIABETES DETECTION DRIVE Helping to pack testing kits are, from left, Mrs. Arthur Lear, president of the Louisiana State Pharmaceutical Association Auxiliary, and Mrs.) Harold M. Herbst, vice-president.
