National Diabetes Month 2021- How To Get Involved
Every November is National Diabetes Month, a chance to raise awareness and shine a light on how to get involved in preventing and managing diabetes.
The facts about diabetes are sobering:
- Currently, diabetes is estimated to affect 34.2 million people nationwide, a full 10.5% of the population. As many as 7.3 million people may be undiagnosed.
- Prediabetes impacts 88 million people in the US (34.5% of the population), with a majority of adults with prediabetes unaware they have it.
- Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness amount US adults and the seventh leading cause of death. It costs upwards of $327 billion in healthcare dollars each year.
But, the good news is, there are so many positive ways you can get involved. From supporting the people in your life who have diabetes to caring for your own health, it takes all of us to work together to prevent and manage the impact of diabetes on our communities.
How To Get Involved This National Diabetes Month
Find a Diabetes Event In Your Area
Many organizations hold awareness or support events in November, including walkathons, health fairs, and diabetes research fundraisers. Check out these organizations to find an event near you:
Post on Social Media
The CDC has a great resource page with links to cards and videos you can post directly on social media as a way to raise awareness and bring attention to diabetes.
You can also download the National Diabetes Month graphic from the NIDDK to share on any of your social media accounts.
The IDF offers a blue circle app to add the blue circle symbol of diabetes awareness to your profile picture or social media post.
In addition, use diabetes hashtags such as #diabetesawarenessmonth or #diabetes as you share facts and information.
Get Tested
Make sure you and your loved ones are not among the millions of adults who do not know they have type 2 or prediabetes.
Schedule your physical and talk to your doctor about getting tested. Early detection and treatment are critical to diabetes management.
Observe World Diabetes Day
November 14th is world diabetes day. It marks the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, discovered insulin in 1922.
While there are many ways to get involved on November 14th, one easy idea is to take the IDF’s type 2 diabetes risk assessment. You can take this simple online test yourself and send it to family and friends as an awareness tool.
Commit To A Healthy Lifestyle Habit
Diet and exercise are two factors that can influence your risk or management of diabetes.
For the month of November, commit to a new healthy habit. Ideas include:
- Cut out sugary beverages
- Eat three or more fruits and vegetables each day
- Limit dessert to one day a week
- Exercise for 30 minutes five times a week
- Go to bed 30 minutes earlier to increase your hours of sleep
Bring Awareness To Diabetes
Millions of American adults are living the daily reality of life with diabetes. This month, show your care by getting involved to spread the word about preventing and treating this disease.
