Free Diabetes Screenings Held in Huntley

Diabetes awareness and prevention is a cause that is dear to State Representative Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake). Now 59, when he was 51 he was diagnosed with Type II diabetes.

Nov. 14 was Diabetes Awareness Day in Illinois and Tryon sponsored one of 40 free diabetes screening events that were held statewide. “I am a reasonably fit man who tries to take care of himself, and while diabetes runs in my family, my diagnosis came as a surprise,” he said. “The statistics on this disease are startling. An estimated 800,000 Illinoisans are living with diabetes and up to 500,000 of them don’t even know they have it.”

In an effort to improve awareness, Tryon partnered with Centegra Health Systems and with Image Industries of Huntley for the free screening event. During the two-hour event, Image Industries employees and employees from the Village of Huntley and other nearby businesses stopped in to get their blood sugar tested. “It was a very successful event,” said Blake Hobson, President of Image Industries. “From the screenings, two people were referred to their physicians for further testing because their blood sugar levels came back higher than they should be.”

Tryon is a founding member of the Illinois Legislative Diabetes Caucus and said early detection is the key to successful management of diabetes. “I think a lot of people are unaware of the devastating side effects of this disease,” Tryon said. “Some side effects can include blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and stroke, so the earlier an at-risk individual can be identified, the sooner he or she can take steps to reverse or control the issue.”

Tryon said his diagnosis came at the end of his first term in the Illinois House of Representatives. “I knew something was wrong because I was exhausted and felt horrible,” he said. “I went to see my physician and his tests revealed that I was well on my way to becoming a diabetic. But my wake-up call happened several months later when I had my blood sugar tested at a business expo in Huntley two hours after eating three tacos, and my blood sugar level was a dangerous 380. Anything above 140 after eating is considered high. I've been on medication for my diabetes ever since.”

Hundreds of people were screened at events around the state on Thursday and several people were referred to their physicians for further tests. “I have no doubt that some of the people who were referred to their doctors had no idea they were at risk for developing diabetes,” said Tryon. “I’m glad we were able to bring awareness to the disease and encourage people to talk to their doctors about blood sugar testing.”