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Show Lion Members See Testing Unit Paul Arnstein, director of nursing at Garfield Memorial Hospital, demonstrated the new glucometer (blood sugar testing machine) to members of the Panguitch Lions Club at their Monday night meeting, July 7. The Lions Club had consented to purchase the machine for the hospital's use and to pay for the costs of conducting free blood sugar screening at the Garfield County Fair on August 7. Arnstein told Lions Club members and guests that over 30 million Americans have been diagnosed as having diabetes that many others have it and don't know it. The American Diabetic Association, he said, says that one out of every four Americans has, will have, or is at risk of developing the deadly disease. He said that diabetes does not have to be debilitating or life threatening if discovered early and treated properly. One Lions Club member, known to have diabetes, was tested with the glucometer and confirmed a high blood sugar reading and three others previously unaware of any problem were discovered to have even higher readings when tested. The glucometer machine is about the size of a calculator and much more accurate than other home testing methods. The finger stick for blood performed with a penlight size device was barely felt by most, and all agreed well worth it. The Lions Club hopes all members of the community will take advantage ad-vantage of having their blood sugar i tested without charge at the upcoming up-coming Garfield County Fair. Service to the community and the optimal health and wellbeing of individuals in the community is the primary concern of the Panguitch Lions Club, Arnstein said. |