Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes) affects more than 20 million U.S. residents and is the most common form of the disease. However, because diabetes exhibits few, if any, symptoms until its advanced stages, millions more are unaware that they are in danger of developing the disease. When blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be classified as diabetes, a condition known as pre-diabetes exists. If discovered early, a person with pre-diabetes can avoid the disease through education, diet, exercise and appropriately prescribed medications. RediClinic LLC, BIOSAFE Laboratories, Inc., and Glycemion have partnered with Mari Gallagher Research & Consulting Group and the National Center for Public Research in the provision of free diabetes screenings to school age children in Richmond, Virginia to help identify diabetic and pre-diabetic children and adolescents. Mari Gallagher Research & Consulting Group has conducted extensive research on the identification of and solution to the Food Desert and its link to diabetes. MG defines Food Deserts as large or isolated geographical area with limited, or no, access to mainstream grocery stores. “This is a wonderful example of direct action being taken by business and science in response to our research. Most importantly, children and the communities they live in will benefit greatly from this effort,” said Mari Gallagher, president of NCPR and Mari Gallagher Research & Consulting Group.