Screening Relatives of Diabetics in Five Florida Counties

Abstract

THAT DIABETES "runs" in families has been recognized for many generations, but this knowledge is seldom applied to community diabetes detection programs if one judges by the literature. Screening relatives of persons with diabetes is a continuing activity in Florida. This report describes the detection project in Hillsborough, Jefferson, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor Counties during the period January through June 1958. Programs for diabetics in Florida began in 1935 when a member of the State legislature for Polk County, who was a diabetic, presented a bill to provide funds to purchase insulin for the indigent diabetics in the State. The legis¬ lature has appropriated funds for this purpose, included in the State board of health budget, for every year except one when the item was not included in the budgetary request. The appropriation for 1959 was approximately $40,000. In 1946 the Public Health Service conducted a diabetes screening demonstration among the general population of Duval County, including Jacksonville. The Service also provided edu¬ cational services, conducted classes for diabetics, and made other studies. Subsequently the Dr. Parks is director of special health services, Flor¬ ida State Board of Health, Jacksonville. Mr. Re¬ mein is associate chief, Operational Research, and Mrs. Shields, public health analyst of the Chronic Disease Branch, Division of Special Health Services, Public Health Service. Mr. Turvaville is a fieldworker with the division of chronic disease, Florida State Board of Health.

Screening High-Yield Groups for Diabetes

“…In the diabetes project in Florida a few years ago (source 4), blood relatives of a group of known diabetics were traced and given blood tests for diabetes (2). The known diabetics were indigents being supplied insulin without charge by the State.…”

The Diabetic Inheritance

“…sex distribution. (Parks et al, 1960). There may well be families, or age groups, in which the chance of finding unsuspected diabetes is greater than this.…”