Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           
    Date: 11/5/96
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple  101

Editors: Photo accompanies release -- Please note local interest
SLU STUDENT NURSES SCREEN FOR DIABETES AT NORTH OAKS 
     HAMMOND -- Student nurses from Southeastern Louisiana University are getting
valuable community health training while participating in diabetes screening tests for senior
citizens jointly sponsored by North Oaks Health Systems and the Louisiana Health Care Review.
     The students, who currently are studying public health, are administering blood sugar
screening tests each Thursday through November 14 at the North Oaks Rehabilitation Center's
Occupational Health Services Clinic. 
     According to North Oaks, 17 percent of the approximately 40 patients screened in the
first month of the public service program tested positive for high blood sugar levels, indicating
that they may be at risk for diabetes.
     "Everybody wins in this kind of situation," said School of Nursing professor Ruth
Rolling, who is the students' public health instructor and is supervising their work at North Oaks.
Two students participate in the 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. screening each Thursday. "It's a marvelous
opportunity for students to do work in the community and to identify people who need additional
medical care. The students have really learned a lot."
     North Oaks diabetic educator Myra Varnado said 3,500 Hammond area Medicare
recipients were invited to take advantage of the free screening. Students check the patients' blood
sugar and glucose and blood pressure.  "Patients are referred to their physician if they have a
problem," Rolling said.
     "I've really enjoyed it," said senior Becky Gaspard of Mandeville. "I just found one
patient with high blood pressure. This is rewarding." 
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CUTLINE ...
DIABETES SCREENING -- Southeastern Louisiana University nursing student Becky
Gaspard, center, a senior from Mandeville, administers a blood sugar screening test for the early
detection of diabetes to Mrs. Lela Cooper of Hammond, right. Gaspard and other Southeastern
nursing students, who are studying public health nursing with Southeastern professor Ruth
Rolling, left, have been participating in five-week diabetes screening project joinly sponsored by
North Oaks Health Systems and the Louisiana Health Care Review.