Elizabethtown, NY – Getting an A1c test is one of the most important steps people can take to better understand their risk for diabetes and manage their health. This July, community members will have two opportunities to receive a free A1c test at local health centers in Willsboro and Westport.

The A1c test measures a person's average blood sugar level over the past two to three months. It can help identify prediabetes, diabetes, or show how well diabetes is being managed over time. Many people put off testing because of cost, transportation challenges or limited access to healthcare services.

"In rural communities, it's not always easy to access preventative and affordable healthcare," says Denise McLaughlin, BSN, RN, CDCES, manager of the Diabetes Education Program at University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital. "We wanted to remove as many barriers as possible by offering free A1C fingerstick testing at two of our local health centers to anyone who wants to better understand their risk for diabetes or monitor their blood glucose."

Free A1c Testing Events

Smith House Health Center
39 Farrell Road, Willsboro, NY
Friday, July 10
9 am to 2 pm

Westport Health Center
6097 NYS Route 9N, Westport, NY
Friday, July 17
9 am to 2 pm

No appointment is required. The events are open to the public.

According to McLaughlin, knowing your A1c number can help you take charge of your health. Early detection of prediabetes or diabetes may allow people to make lifestyle changes and work with their healthcare providers before serious complications develop.

Whether you have diabetes, have a family history of the disease, have been told you have prediabetes, or simply haven't been tested in a while, these events offer a quick and easy way to learn more about your health.

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About Elizabethtown Community Hospital

University of Vermont Health – Elizabethtown Community Hospital is a not-for-profit critical access hospital with locations in Elizabethtown and Ticonderoga and six community-based primary care centers serving Essex County and the Adirondack Park region. As part of a rural academic health system serving Vermont and northern New York, we provide essential emergency, inpatient, rehabilitation and specialty care close to home. Together, we deliver access to leading-edge technology, advanced treatment options and the highest level of compassionate care while addressing the critical needs and unique challenges facing our patients, their families and our employees.

About University of Vermont Health Network

University of Vermont Health Network is a rural academic health system with more than 100 years of service to small towns and cities across Vermont and northern New York. We are deeply committed to reimagining rural health in ways that will benefit our communities for generations to come and keep exceptional care close to home. Our system includes an academic medical center, two community hospitals, three critical access hospitals, a children’s hospital, a cancer center, a multispecialty medical group, 154 outpatient sites and care beyond the hospital through home health, hospice care, four skilled nursing facilities and other support services. Our care is informed by an essential partnership with University of Vermont’s The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine and College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Together, as a health system serving a rural area, we are tackling health care’s biggest challenges — supporting the communities we serve and investing in our employees by addressing housing affordability, quality childcare and professional development needs. To learn more, visit us at www.uvmhealth.org.