In connection with the International Diabetes Day, the Estonian Association of Medical Students (EAÜS) organizes the All-Estonian Diabetes Awareness Day on November 12, in the framework of which medical and nursing students will measure blood sugar levels for free in eleven shopping centers across Estonia on a first-come, first-served basis.
Diabetes Day focuses on raising awareness about diabetes as a serious and disabling chronic disease. EAÜS contributes through free measurements. In 2018, blood sugar levels were measured in 2,052 people, and this year they want to help even more people. Measurements take place in shopping centers from 11 am to 5 pm. In order to measure the result as accurately as possible, you are asked not to eat or drink sweet drinks for at least two hours before the measurement.
Blood sugar is measured in a total of eight cities and eleven shopping centers:
In
Tallinn
Tallinn, the largest city and capital of Estonia (population 440 000).
, Ülemiste Keskus and Solaris are available;
Lõunakeskus and Kvartal in
Tartu
City in the west of Estonia (pop. 91,000).
;
in
Haapsalu
Town in the west of Estonia(pop.10,000).
Rannarootsi Keskus;
in
Pärnu
City in the SW of Estonia (pop.40,000).
Kaubamajakas and Port Artur;
Põhjakeskus in
Rakvere
Town in the NE of Estonia(pop.15,000).
;
Saaremaa
The largest island in Estonia(pop. 31,000).
department store in
Kuressaare
Town in the westernmost island in Estonia, Saareemaa Island (pop.13,000).
;
Uku Keskus in
Viljandi
Town in southern Estonia (pop.17,000).
;
Kagukeskus in
Võru
Town in the SE of Estonia(pop.13,000).
.
In addition to blood pressure measurement, you can get answers to the questions that patients ask most about diabetes prevention and complications, as well as practical recommendations for healthy living.
"Approximately 65,000 people in Estonia suffer from type 2 diabetes, and even more people have reached the pre-diabetic state, when the blood sugar level is slightly higher than the norm. However, prediabetes can be well controlled with sufficient awareness and the right lifestyle choices. With our initiative, we want to direct people's attention to a possible dangerous situation," explained Lysandra Lippa, chief organizer of the diabetes day.