Walmart Wellness Day to Focus on Diabetes

For Walmart Wellness Day on June 17, the Bentonville, Ark.-based mega-retailer will not only offer free health screenings at its more than 4,600 locations across the country, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, but also extend the event beyond a single day by joining forces with the American Diabetes Association to aid those discovered to be at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

After the Wellness Day event, the association will follow up by e-mail with interested customers whose blood pressure and blood glucose tests showed that they may develop diabetes, suggesting next steps and resources.

“We’re more committed than ever to serving as an open door to affordable, accessible health care, and our Walmart Wellness Day program is a key piece of that,” said George Riedl, SVP and president, Walmart Health & Wellness. “We know that many of our customers have learned about an existing health problem for the first time at one our Walmart Wellness Day events, and that can be overwhelming. Walmart is proud to be working with the American Diabetes Association to offer even more support to customers who may find themselves in this situation.”

Since its first Wellness Day event in 2015, the company has provided almost 1.1 million free health screenings to people across United Stated for such conditions as high blood pressure, signs of diabetes and other potential illness.

“An estimated 8 million people with diabetes are undiagnosed, and when left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health complications, including kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, blindness and amputations,” explained Tamara Darsow, SVP, research and community programs for the Arlington, Va.-based association. “We … encourage as many Americans as possible to participate. Knowing your risk for diabetes is the first step to being able to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.”

The June 17 event’s free screenings will include blood glucose, blood pressure, vision (select locations) and body mass index tests. Additionally. product samples will be available, and more than 10,000 licensed pharmacists will offer immunizations in select stores.

Additional Walmart Wellness Days with the American Diabetes Association are scheduled for September 2017, January 2018 and spring 2018.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. operates 11,723 stores under 59 banners in 28 countries, and ecommerce websites in 11 countries.