Catalina Island Medical Center will be offering free screenings for one of the most common health concerns in the United States.

Diabetes affects seven percent of the United States population - nearly 21 million people. Of those, according to the American Diabetes Association, 6.2 million don't even know they have the disease.

Those statistics hold true for residents.

"We would expect with our population that there would be about 140 patients with diabetes," said CIMC's Director of Social Services Dawn Sampson, who is working on a grant related to the condition. "We are currently treating about 70."

Individuals who don't know they have diabetes can continue to engage in activities that exasperate the condition.

"Once people find out they have diabetes or are risk for it, they can make changes in their diets and lifestyles that will slow the progression," said Doreen Macktal, RN, CIMC's chief of patient care services. "Diabetes can be managed to reduce the devastating impacts of the disease."

Untreated, diabetes causes an array of health concerns that decrease both life expectancy and quality of life. Stroke, heart disease, amputations, blindness and kidney disease are just some of the many side effects that can result from untreated diabetes.

A tiny drop of blood is all it takes to screen for diabetes.

Screening is done by pricking the finger and measuring the level of glucose - or sugar - in the blood. Generally, a glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl is considered pre-diabetic, while a level over 126 mg/dl indicates diabetes.

Free glucose screenings will be offered in the post office arcade on Tuesday, March 25, and Wednesday, March 26. Because the screening is more effective when a person has been fasting, it will be offered from 8 to 10 a.m. "That way it's easier for people to avoid eating," Macktal said. "They can just postpone breakfast until after the test."