9 Ways To Raise Diabetes Awareness This November (and Why It Matters)
This post is sponsored by Medtronic The biggest month for diabetes awareness activities is here, and it’s the perfect time to raise your voice to increase awareness about diabetes! You might ask: Why? How does more awareness impact the lives of people with diabetes in a meaningful way? The question is a good one, but the answer is simple. Awareness is the first step to any kind of change. More funding for research, better public support for legislation issues. More understanding and empathy. Less blame and shame. Awareness + education is even more powerful. Knowing symptoms of type 1 diabetes can be life-saving when a diagnosis is right around the corner. If you’re at risk for type 2, education can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease (in cases where you’re able to do that). And education that helps our communities offer support (instead of blame) through a very challenging disease is invaluable. Here’s a list of different ways you and your family and friends can make an impact for diabetes in your community. 1. ADA This Is DiabetesTM Campaign The ADA is showcasing real-life stories of people with diabetes and their care partners managing the everyday successes and challenges of diabetes. Help the ADA raise awareness by submitting your own story to communicate the experiences of those who know and understand diabetes the best. Share your story, photo, or video on social media using #ThisIsDiabetes. 2. Take The Big Blue Test Another annual favorite, the Diabetes Hands Foundation asks you to take the Big Blue Test by doing 14-20 minutes of exercise of your choice, testing your blood sugar, and sharing your results either online or through your smartphone app. Each entry you log between October 14th and November 14th triggers a $3 donation on your b Continue reading >>
It's Your Life. Treat Your Diabetes Well.
November is National Diabetes Month. Here’s to managing your diabetes for a longer, healthier life. There isn’t a cure yet for diabetes, but a healthy lifestyle can really reduce its impact on your life. What you do every day makes the difference: eating a healthy diet, being physically active, taking medicines if prescribed, and keeping health care appointments to stay on track. The Basics More than 30 million people in the United States have diabetes, but 1 out of 4 of them don’t know they have it. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant, which can put the pregnancy and baby at risk and lead to type 2 diabetes later). With type 1 diabetes, your body can’t make insulin (a hormone that acts like a key to let blood sugar into cells for use as energy), so you need to take it every day. Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2 diabetes; about 5% of the people who have diabetes have type 1. Currently, no one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes. Most people with diabetes—9 out of 10—have type 2 diabetes. With type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t use insulin well and is unable to keep blood sugar at normal levels. If you have any of the risk factors below, ask your doctor if you should be tested for diabetes. The sooner you find out, the sooner you can start making healthy changes that will benefit you now and in the future. More than 30 million US adults have diabetes—and 1 out of 4 of them don’t know they have it. At least 1 out of 3 people will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Medical costs for people with diabetes are twice as high as for people without diabetes. Risk of death for adults with diabetes is 50% higher than for adults without diabetes. Type 2 diabetes risk factors include: Continue reading >>
National Diabetes Month 2017
Each November communities across the country observe National Diabetes Month to bring attention to diabetes and its impact on millions of Americans. Living with diabetes can be challenging to manage every day. You are the most important member of your diabetes care team, but you don’t have to manage your diabetes alone. Seek support from health care professionals, your family, friends, and community to manage your diabetes. Watch the video below, and when you’re ready learn more about managing your diabetes. Help Promote National Diabetes Month! We encourage partners, organizations, and health care professionals to use our resources and share our 2017 theme in their communities. Continue reading >>
What's Happening For Diabetes Awareness Month And World Diabetes Day 2016
November is upon us -- the time of year when "all eyes are on diabetes" for National Diabetes Awareness Month and World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14. That day was chosen in honor of Dr. Frederick Banting, the co-discoverer of insulin back in 1921, who would be 125 years old were he still alive to celebrate this birthday! This National Diabetes Month campaign has been going on for much longer than many realize; it was established over four decades ago in 1975, though the American Diabetes Association (ADA) didn't trademark the term "American Diabetes Month" until 1997. Meanwhile, World Diabetes Day was launched by the International Diabetes Federation in 1991 to call attention to this worldwide epidemic, and it got a big boost when the United Nations issued a resolution on it in 2006. The first-ever WDD was recognized in 2007. All of these November observances exploded about a decade ago with the emergence of the Diabetes Online Community (DOC), where people can easily create and promote new campaigns and initiatives. Some of these repeat annually, while others are specific to a particular year. Leading up to November, President Barack Obama issued the now-annual presidential proclamation marking November as National Diabetes Awareness Month. On Oct. 28, the White House posted this symbolic gesture of official federal government recognition of our condition, which they've been doing since the mid-1980s. Here's a quick look at what’s on offer in November 2016 from some prominent advocacy organizations. Of course, if you know of any other activities, please let us know in comments below! ADA's Story Site As always, the ADA is active for this NDAM 2016. Mainly, the org is launching a brand new This Is Diabetes campaign, which is a story-telling effort based on the idea that no Continue reading >>
2017 National Diabetes Awareness Month Campaigns
In addition to a handful of other chronic diseases, November has been designated as National Diabetes Awareness month, and November 14 World Diabetes Day. Patients with diabetes and their loved ones are taking to social media to make visible the often invisible disease. Many organizations, advocates, and companies dedicated to improving the lives of people living with type 1(T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes, preventing the disease and it’s complications, and working towards a cure, use the month of November to raise awareness about the daily and long term impact of the disease. Campaigns are created highlighting the experiences of patients living with T1D and T2D, the loved ones who help them, and to bring attention to the need for accessible health care and funding towards research and a cure. Via their “Call of the Warrior” campaign, continuous glucose monitor manufacturer Dexcom, Inc. will donate $1 to diabetes charities for every photo and video posted to social media with the hashtag #WarriorUp. One of those diabetes charities is the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), a global diabetes research and advocacy nonprofit whose aim is to eradicate T1D worldwide. This month, they’re continuing their “T1D Looks Like Me” campaign encouraging people affected by T1D to use their custom frame for social media profile photos, and contribute them to JDRF’s site. Patients can learn about and share the cumulative burden of their disease by using JDRF’s “T1D Footprint Generator,” and site visitors can “Get Quizzed by a Whiz Kid” to test and compare their diabetes knowledge to that of a 9 year old with T1D. This year, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) asks families impacted by diabetes to “put on your cape and take a stand.” People are enc Continue reading >>
10 Ways To Raise Diabetes Awareness This November (and Why It Matters)
The biggest month for diabetes awareness activities is only a few days away, and it’s the perfect time to raise your voice to increase awareness about diabetes! You might ask: Why? How does more awareness meaningfully impact the lives of people with diabetes? The question is a good one, but the answer is simple. Awareness is the first step to any kind of change. More funding for research, better public support for legislation issues. More understanding and empathy. Less blame and shame. Awareness + education is even more powerful. Knowing symptoms of type 1 can be life-saving when a diagnosis is right around the corner. If you’re at risk for type 2, education can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease (in cases where you’re able to do that). And education that helps our communities offer support (instead of blame) through a very challenging disease is invaluable. Here’s a list of different ways you and your family and friends can make an impact for diabetes in your community. 1. Make Social Noise with JDRF’s Thunderclap Campaign Once again JDRF kicks off National Diabetes Awareness Month on November 1st with type 1 diabetes awareness day, “T1D”, a day devoted to raising the voices of people touched by type 1 diabetes. Use the web platform “Thunderclap” to join in an auto-generated, mass-shared social media post All you have to do is sign-up on the JDRF #noT1D Thunderclap page. Show your friends, family, and the public you can live well with this disease and chase your dreams – whether that’s running marathons, travelling the world, falling in love, or advocating for a cause. The Instagram contest will ask you to show a photo of how you’re doing just that along with a few sentences on what it’s like to live with diabetes. Look for Continue reading >>
Are You Aware? November Is Diabetes Awareness Month
Are you aware? November is Diabetes Awareness Month It is important to bring awareness to a disease that effects 29 million people. November is Diabetes Awareness Month. This annual month-long campaign draws attention to all forms including, type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Organizations are promoting awareness campaigns to educate people to learn more about the condition, or to help better manage their lives. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is encouraging people to share their story by using the hashtag #ThisIsDiabetes. It is a simple and easy way to encourage people to raise awareness about the disease and how they are succeeding and coping. Diabetic suffers can download the ADA sponsored sign, and fill in the blank, This is______. Then, take a photo or video and post the sign on a social media platform. If you would like to participate, you can download the sign here . Another organization that is launching their November awareness campaign is, The International Diabetes Federation. The theme this year is, Eyes on Diabetes . They are promoting the importance of screenings to ensure early diagnosis of diabetes, which can lead to diabetic eye disease. During the month of November, people are encouraged to go out and get a diabetic screening. Many people live with type 2 diabetes for a long period of time without being aware of their condition. That is why screening for diabetes is so important. Early detection can help reduce the risk of complications associated with the disease. If you werent aware that November is Diabetes Awareness Month, I hope you are now! Lets talk to our friends and loved ones who are affected by this disease and also spread awareness for the millions of people who are at risk. Continue reading >>
With Type 1 Diabetes, The Numbers Add Up
Please use a modern #T1DYouDontSee We share little moments on social media every day. But for those with T1D in their life, there's so much our friends and family don’t see. Let's celebrate our strength by telling the whole story. Create your photo and show the world the T1D behind the picture. Continue reading >>
American Diabetes Month
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. It can cause blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, and other health problems if it’s not controlled. One in 10 Americans have diabetes — that’s more than 30 million people. And another 84 million adults in the United States are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The good news? People who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes can lower their risk by more than half if they make healthy changes. These changes include: eating healthy, getting more physical activity, and losing weight. How can American Diabetes Month make a difference? We can use this month to raise awareness about diabetes risk factors and encourage people to make healthy changes. Here are just a few ideas: Encourage people to make small changes, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Talk to people in your community about getting regular checkups. They can get their blood pressure and cholesterol checked, and ask the doctor about their diabetes risk. Ask doctors and nurses to be leaders in their communities by speaking about the importance of healthy eating and physical activity. How can I help spread the word? We’ve made it easier for you to make a difference. This toolkit is full of ideas to help you take action today. For example: Continue reading >>
Diabetes Awareness Week 2017
Diabetes Week kicks off on 11 June, and this year the theme is: Know Diabetes. Fight Diabetes. While a lot of people have a good understanding of diabetes and how to manage it, many others aren’t getting the right help and support to look after their diabetes. Today, 65 people will die early from the condition and hundreds more will face life-changing complications that could have been avoided or delayed if they’d had the right knowledge and support to manage their diabetes. Some of you have that, and are already doing everything you can to manage your diabetes well. But this isn’t true for everyone and it’s our job to change that. Our vision is a world where diabetes can do no harm. Together, we can make that a reality. We are encouraging the diabetes community to share their experiences and knowledge. We’d love to hear your stories of how you know more about diabetes because this shared knowledge could help someone else with the condition. We know that the right knowledge has the power to transform lives. Knowledge gained from the experience of people living with diabetes, knowledge gained from research discoveries, knowledge from the people working with diabetes every day. This Diabetes Week, we want to hear how you learned more about your condition, to inspire others to do the same, using our hashtag #knowdiabetes Fight Diabetes We are fighting every day for people with diabetes. Together, we all need to fight the challenges that diabetes presents – challenges of funding over research, perceptions around Type 1 and Type 2, of better care, rights for people at work and children at school living with diabetes. Together we can fight diabetes. We can fight against the postcode lottery in care, we can fight for a cure and we can fight on behalf of those who c Continue reading >>
Your Diabetes Awareness Month 2017 Action Plan
November is Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to shine the spotlight on diabetes and diabetes research. Ready to get involved? Here are some noteworthy events happening across the country, along with suggestions for creative ways you and your family can raise awareness about diabetes in your community. Observe JDRF’s T1Day What better way to kick off the month? The JDRF-sponsored T1Day, held each year on November 1, is an opportunity to get people everywhere more engaged in talking about type 1 diabetes. Suggested T1Day activities include visiting your child’s class for a kid-friendly diabetes Q&A, encouraging your child to write to the local paper about type 1 awareness, and sharing some of your story via social media. Even something as simple as a tweet describing how diabetes has affected your family’s life can be a rich conversation starter. Tag social media posts with #T1Day to connect with others in the diabetes community. Cheer on NASCAR® Driver Ryan Reed Ryan Reed was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 17, just as his racing career was taking off. At diagnosis, he was told he’d never race again. Now, at age 24, Ryan is driving for Roush Fenway Racing in the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Xfinity® Series. Stop by or tune in for races on November 4 (Texas Motor Speedway), November 11 (Phoenix International Speedway), and November 18 (Homestead-Miami Speedway). Join the #T1DLooksLikeMe Campaign JDRF wants to show the world what life with T1D really looks like with its #T1DLooksLikeMe campaign. Use the free photo editing tool at jdrf.org/T1DLooksLikeMe to give social media profiles a special blue filter and share photos of ordinary life or special events with your child using the hashtag. All month long, join others in getting the messa Continue reading >>
Diabetes Awareness Month Kicks Off
Healthcare professionals and people with diabetes are being invited to take part in DiabetesAwareness Month which startedin November. It is the second year the campaign, which was originally created in America, has been runin the UK by the online member forum diabetes.co.uk . The organisation are asking people to show their support and stay updated byusing thehashtag #BlueNovember on social media. The cornerstone of Diabetes Awareness Month is World Diabetes Day , the birthday of insulin co-creator Frederick Banting , which is celebrated on Monday, November 14. His work has saved the life of millions of people across the globe, which is why he is remembered every year by the diabetes community. This years theme of the day is Eyes on Diabetes, where the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) want to increase the number of undiagnosed people. According to the global organisation, onein two adultscurrently living with diabetes isundiagnosed, which is why organisers are asking anyone whomay be at risk of type 2 diabetes, people living with diabetes, diabetes associations and health professionals totake action to help identify people with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. The aim is to achieve1 million individual screeningsrecorded on the World Diabetes Day website during the month of November. The monthalso marks the first anniversary of diabetes.co.uks Low Carb Program , which has helped thousands of people gain better control of their diabetes since signing up. Diabetes.co.uk are hoping to educate people about the condition, how it develops and what to do to help someone in an emergency. Phone wallpapers are available on their website, along with specialPowered by Insulin t-shirts which are available to buy. Continue reading >>
Why We Need Diabetes Awareness Month... More Than Ever
Hello again, Diabetes Awareness Month. Yup, November marks another national awareness month -- aimed at those in America who are pancreatically-challenged or rapidly heading in that direction. And on Nov. 14, we'll once again mark international World Diabetes Day honoring the birthday of insulin co-discoverer Dr. Frederick Banting, who would be 126 if he were still alive today. As always during this time of year, we've been inundated with marketing pitches from organizations big and small. And as always around this time of year, many in our community ponder the perennial question: Does it all matter? Really? Admittedly last year, we published a piece questioning the effectiveness of NDAM (shorthand for National Diabetes Awareness Month). But our country is in a different place this year, is it not? And now, we're setting skepticism aside to argue that November's designation as Diabetes Awareness Month truly does matter -- potentially more than ever right now. Here's why... It's Only Getting Worse Diabetes is becoming more and more prevalent, especially among children and teens. And that's both type 1 and type 2. And yet our government is cutting funding for diabetes at an alarming rate. This disconnect illustrates that our legislators and the public at large just don't know or care enough about this illness... despite the fact that they're all at risk too. Meanwhile, drug pricing has gotten so out of hand that people are literally dying because they can't afford their insulin. Middle class people. Working people. Young people. How can this be happening in a country as wealthy and sophisticated as ours?! So yes, the notion of "raising awareness" sounds a lot less vague these days. SOMETHING'S GOTTA CHANGE, and promoting a month-long blitz of awareness messages has got to Continue reading >>
Dexcom Launches “call Of The Warrior” Campaign For National Diabetes Awareness Month
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, DexCom, Inc. (Nasdaq: DXCM) has launched the “Call of the Warrior” campaign on social media to support those living with diabetes, a chronic disease that affects more than 30 million Americans. For every Warrior Call photo or video posted in November on Facebook or Instagram with hashtag #WarriorUp, DexCom will donate one dollar to a diabetes charity, including Children With Diabetes (CWD), Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Beyond Type 1, Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD) and College Diabetes Network (CDN). “Diabetes is challenging, but it doesn’t hold me back,” said film and television actor Derek Theler. “It’s Diabetes Awareness Month, so I decided to partner with DexCom, not only to bring awareness to diabetes, but to put diabetes on notice. A Warrior Call is whatever you want it to be; it’s how you face a challenge – a call of courage, a scream at the top of your lungs – whatever you call it, we’re telling diabetes that we’re not backing down.” Derek Theler, who was recently cast as Mister Immortal in Marvel’s “New Warriors,” has battled diabetes since he was three years old. To help spread the word and raise money for diabetes research, Derek posted his Warrior Call on social media and encouraged others to #WarriorUp. People across the U.S. are asked to follow Derek’s lead and post a Warrior Call of their own. Soccer superstar Jordan Morris, country singer Eric Paslay, NASCAR driver Ryan Reed and four-time Olympic cross-country skier Kris Freeman will post Warrior Calls throughout the month of November to help spread the word. “As the leader and pioneer in continuous glucose monitoring, DexCom works every day to improve the lives of peopl Continue reading >>
November Kicks Off Diabetes Awareness Month
On Friday, President Obama proclaimed November 2015 as National Diabetes Month, asking Americans to join in activities that raise diabetes awareness and help prevent, treat, and manage the disease. An estimated 29 million Americans have type 2 diabetes and another 86 million have prediabetes. As part of diabetes awareness month, many of the diabetes research, education and advocacy groups have launched their own campaigns and activities to raise awareness of the disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) estimates that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes by 2050 unless people make changes to prevent it. “Raising awareness regarding diabetes is so important because too few people understand that everyone is at risk for diabetes damage, be it through a personal history, the socioeconomic repercussions of having a loved one with diabetes, , or just simply living in a society ravaged by the impact of diabetes,” says Jason Baker, MD, founder of Marjorie’s Fund, an advocacy and support organization for people with type 1 diabetes. “We all pay for it in some way, but sadly as a society we don't understand the depths of the impact,” he says. This month, the ADA is focusing on healthy eating with their campaign “Eat Well, America!” Each week in November, the ADA will post recipes and menu planning tips, as well as advice for the holidays. Check here for the weekly menus. Mid month—November 14th—is World Diabetes Day, created by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), which is concerned about the rising numbers of people around the world developing diabetes. The day centers around the Global Diabetes Walk. Look for walks in your area here. The IDF is also focusing on healthy eating as a key factor in the fight against diabetes, noting Continue reading >>
