In April, the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC) partnered with Live HealthSmart Alabama (LHSA) to bring free wellness screenings to UAB students.
Students were invited to learn more about their health through a screening that took 15 minutes or less. Strategically located in the Hill Student Center, the screenings eliminated many barriers to healthcare for busy college students, like making an appointment, driving (or finding transportation), and taking time off school or work.
Over 60 students were able to learn their height/weight, blood pressure, A1C, cholesterol, and more. Clinic staff recorded height and weight, and then students got their blood tested to measure cholesterol and blood sugar levels through a simple finger stick.
“This was our first pilot of the UAB student health screenings, in partnership with the UCDC, and we could not be happier with 60+ students deciding to put their health first and learn their numbers,” said Lemeshia Chambers, PhD, MSW, operations director of LHSA. “For a rainy day during finals weeks, we are proud that we had so many students decide to participate.”
Not only did students receive real-time health data as soon as their screening concluded, but they were encouraged to take home swag and educational flyers about diabetes in Alabama and other information on any irregular numbers in their screening.
The UCDC is a center of over 200+ researchers from across UAB dedicated to diabetes research. The center aims to improve the lives of those affected by diabetes in Alabama and beyond.
Its mission uniquely aligns with LHSA, which is committed to reducing obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol in the state of Alabama. Though LHSA holds many health screenings in communities across Birmingham, this is the first time the initiative provided screenings for students.
Alongside the LHSA, the UCDC hopes to provide more screening opportunities for students in the future. Stay tuned to uab.edu/diabetes and the UAB Campus Calendar for more information.