Blood Bank of Delmarva to Become Nation's First Blood Center to Screen for Diabetes
Blood Bank of Delmarva has announced that beginning in October, it will offer blood donors the opportunity to be screened for diabetes beginning in October. It will be the first blood banking organization in the country to launch this type of program.
Up to 50,000 blood donors are expected to be screened annually, helping identify many people on the Delmarva Peninsula who do not know they have or are at risk for developing diabetes. Confidential results will be posted on a secure server accessed through the Blood Bank's website.
Robert L. Travis, president and CEO of the Blood Bank of Delmarva, conceived the idea for a screening program after hearing a presentation on the diabetes epidemic. Travis formed a committee of experts from Christiana Care Health System, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and the Delaware Division of Public Health to help advance the project.
According to the ADA, more than 75,000 people locally have diabetes. About one-third of them are "hidden diabetics" (more than 6 million nationwide) and are unaware they have the disease.
"Once we understood the magnitude of the diabetes problem and how tens of thousands of people could be screened, our board voted to move ahead with this important project," said Travis.
The non-fasting blood glucose test will be completely voluntary and will be offered to donors at no charge. Donors with an elevated blood glucose level will be urged to consult their physician.
Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death by disease, with more than 400,000 Americans dying from its complications each year. Those can include problems related to the heart, kidneys, eyes, feet, nerves, teeth, and gums. If detected early, diabetes is treatable.
