Walgreens offers free blood glucose tests

Free blood glucose testing will be offered to people 18 and older at all Walgreens 24-hour stores and stores with Take Care clinics beginning today from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. as part of an effort to raise awareness of diabetes and benefits of early disease prevention.

The testing, subject to availability, also will be offered at stores with Take Care clinics and selected other stores from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. weekends through the end of February.

People who are tested and who show signs of risk will be encouraged to follow up with their primary care provider.

Walgreens stores with Take Care clinics in the Rockford area are at 2323 Charles St., and 3336 11th St., Rockford; 5065 Hononegah Road, Roscoe; and 230 W. Chrysler Drive, Belvidere.

Some Walgreens stores will host blood glucose testing events through Feb. 18. For more information and to find the nearest event, visit walgreens.com/diabetes.

Walgreens held its first diabetes wellness events in November, and more than 80,000 tests were administered. More than 25 percent of individuals who were screened at the events tested “at risk” for diabetes.