Free Screening for Pre-Diabetes until March 16

Great news for everyone who’s between 20 and 39 years old and living in Singapore. There will be 150 free pre-diabetes tests offered by two commercial clinics from January 22 until March 16.

The initiative is part of the ‘Take a Prediabetest’ promotional campaign spearheaded by four graduating students from Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information in order to spread awareness on the early detection of pre-diabetes among the above-mentioned age group.

The pre-diabetes campaign will reach out to some 50,000 residents in the Punggol area through various online platforms.

Two Private Clinics Offer Free Preliminary Tests for Pre-Diabetes

Qualified participants can avail one Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) test from either TruCare Medical Clinic and Surgery or Zenith Medical Clinic for free. Further testing and any related follow-up services, if necessary, will be shouldered by the patient.

To this day, many people think diabetes is only a disease among older people. And the campaign aims to support the country’s National Health Program by focusing the spotlight on pre-diabetes for the younger population to be aware of and to take necessary measures to deal with it.

Pre-diabetes puts people at risk for developing diabetes because of their elevated blood glucose levels, but not consistently high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, early detection of pre-diabetes is important in delaying and ultimately preventing the development of life-altering complications associated with diabetes which include stroke, blindness, heart disease, nerve injuries, and kidney failure, as explained by TruCare Medical Clinic and Surgery’s Dr Lee Chong Han.

A local study conducted in 2016 revealed that by 2035, 1 out of 4 Singaporeans will have pre-diabetes. And if no appropriate lifestyle changes are made, at least 35% of these pre-diabetic individuals will have developed type-2 diabetes within the next eight years. Furthermore, in a 2010 National Health Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, 14.4% of adult Singaporeans aged between 18 and 69 have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes and more still remain undiagnosed.

The pre-diabetes campaign will reach out to some 50,000 residents in the Punggol area through various online platforms. Moreover, the campaign has been picked up by Punggol 21 Community Club in order to increase the numbers of clinical partners for the program in the upcoming weeks.

The screening registration portal can be accessed through the campaign’s official website. The campaign is open to eligible individuals (aged 20 to 39) to book an appointment for a Free Fasting Blood Glucose test starting January 22 up to March 16.