Just a little pin prick.

That’s all it took Tuesday morning at Andalusia Regional Hospital, where a free glucose screening was held in the lobby.

“We wanted to offer the public a free glucose screening,” Valarie McCalman, ARH assistant to the community director, said.

The screening tests the sugar level in the blood related to diabetes.

Diabetes is called the silent killer because nearly one-fourth of those with the disease — 6 million — don’t know they have it.

There are four common types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, gestational and prediabetes.

Type 1 diabetes happens when someone has little, or no insulin. It and usually develops in childhood or young adulthood.

Type 2 diabetes happens when you become unable to use your own insulin. It can be controlled with diet and exercise, but often requires medicine to lower blood sugar.

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes for women during pregnancy, where the blood sugar becomes too high.

Prediabetes is a new term, which describes people whose blood sugar is above normal, but not yet high enough to be called diabetes.

McCalman said she expected a good number of people to come through the screening Tuesday morning. She said more than 65 came through last year.

Debra Fuqua said she thought this would be a good time to get her blood screened.

“It runs in my family,” Fuqua said. “On my daddy’s side.”

All information about diabetes in this article was obtained through pamphlets given out at the screening.