Diabetes Awareness Month – November 2023

Strategies for Raising Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes Awareness

National Diabetes Awareness Month (November 2023) is a crucial time to raise awareness about diabetes, a chronic health condition affecting more than half a billion people worldwide. The 2023 theme for World Diabetes Day, which falls on the 14th of this month, is “Access to Diabetes Care,” focusing on the prevention of type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related complications. This theme emphasizes the importance of increasing access to diabetes education to help improve the lives of those living with the condition.

The Importance of Pre-Diabetes Testing and Care

Pre-diabetes testing is crucial because it enables people to take early action to stop or delay the formation of type 2 diabetes. In the United States, more than 96 million people have prediabetes, and the majority of them are not aware of the fact they are developing a significant chronic illness. According to research, people are more likely to adopt the essential long-term lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier, controlling their weight, and being active, after they are made aware of their disease. These adjustments can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. That is why National Diabetes Awareness Month is essential in motivating people to seek pre-diabetes screenings and take preventative measures to maintain their health.

What You Can Do: Encouraging Diabetic Care

Through a variety of tactics, including community outreach events and social media education and awareness campaigns, healthcare marketers can raise the general public’s awareness of diabetes and pre-diabetes. Community activities like health fairs, workshops, and informational sessions can help to increase awareness of diabetes and pre-diabetes by giving people the chance to learn about risk factors, preventative measures, and services that are accessible.  In order to inform their audience about early detection, prevention, and management of these conditions, healthcare marketers can use social media platforms to share educational content, personal stories, and resources. This can help raise awareness of diabetes and pre-diabetes. To put it another way, anything that causes a customer to stop and think about how diabetes may affect them creates an outstanding call to action.

Creative Ideas for Promotion

1. American Diabetes Month Toolkit by USHBC: This toolkit provides tools, resources, and content to help promote awareness of the health benefits of blueberries in relation to diabetes management.
2. Health Communication and Marketing Toolkit by CDC: This resource is designed for CDC-funded state, city, and organization type 2 diabetes prevention and management programs.
3. American Diabetes Month by ADA: This campaign takes place in November and provides ways to manage diabetes and raise awareness about the condition.
4. Official hashtags: #DiabetesAwarenessMonth #DiabetesAwareness #type1diabetes #type2diabetes #NDAM #WorldDiabetesDay

Did You Know?

#1: In 200 A.D.

The term diabetes (meaning “to pass through”) is used for the first time by the Greek physician Arateus of Capadocia to describe a condition of excessive urination.

#2: Insulin is 102 years old

The development of therapeutic insulin in 1921 was a landmark breakthrough in the history of medicine. 100 years on, millions of lives have been saved and improved but insulin and other diabetes medicines and care still remain beyond the reach of many who need them.

#3: The INSULIN Act of 2023

– also known as the Affordable Insulin Now Act, is a bipartisan legislation introduced to cap the price of insulin for individuals with private health insurance. As of September 1, 2023, the bill has gained momentum in the House of Representatives, with 73 members co-sponsoring it since its reintroduction in March. However, it has not yet been confirmed whether the legislation has passed.

Warning Signs and Symptoms

The following symptoms of diabetes are typical. However, some people with diabetes have symptoms so mild that they go unnoticed.

Common symptoms of diabetes:

• Urinating often
• Feeling very thirsty
• Feeling very hungry—even though you are eating
• Extreme fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
• Weight loss—even though you are eating more (type 1)
• Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet (type 2)

Early detection and treatment of diabetes can decrease the risk of developing the complications of diabetes.

UNDERSTANDING A1C

The A1C test can be used to diagnose diabetes or help you know how your treatment plan is working by giving you a picture of your average blood glucose (blood sugar) over the past two to three months.

It can identify prediabetes, which raises your risk for diabetes. It can be used to diagnose diabetes. And it’s used to monitor how well your diabetes treatment is working over time. It’s also a critical step in forming your game plan to manage diabetes with your diabetes care team.

This relatively simple blood test can tell you a lot. The test results give you a picture of your average blood glucose (blood sugar) level over the past two to three months. The higher the levels, the greater your risk of developing diabetes complications. Your doctor will tell you how often you need the A1C test, but usually you’ll have the test at least twice a year if you’re meeting your treatment goals. If you’re not meeting your goals or you change treatments, you may need to get an A1C test more often.

When it comes to the numbers, there’s no one-size-fits-all target. A1C target levels can vary by each person’s age and other factors, and your target may be different from someone else’s. The goal for most adults with diabetes is an A1C that is less than 7%.

A1C test results are reported as a percentage. The higher the percentage, the higher your blood glucose levels over the past two to three months. The A1C test can also be used for diagnosis, based on the following guidelines:

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• If your A1C level is between 5.7 and less than 6.5%, your levels have been in the prediabetes range.
• If you have an A1C level of 6.5% or higher, your levels were in the diabetes range.

Another term you may come across when finding out your A1C is eAG. Your doctor might report your A1C results as eAG. eAG is similar to what you see when monitoring your blood glucose at home on your meter. However, because you are more likely to check your blood glucose in the morning and before meals, your meter readings will likely be lower than your eAG.

Comparison of A1C and eAG meter readings

Navigating Nutrition

Eating well with diabetes doesn’t mean giving up your favorite foods, it’s about finding the balance between keeping the flavors you love and incorporating the nutrients you need to live well with diabetes. Simple swaps such as opting for the low-fat versions of cheeses and dressings, choosing lean meats, and using natural sweeteners will all help you meet your health goals—and they’ll taste great too!

All foods affect your blood glucose (blood sugar), but some have a bigger impact than others, such as foods high in simple carbs, fat, and calories. 

You Can Manage and Thrive with Diabetes

Receiving a diabetes diagnosis can be scary—but know that it doesn’t have to stop you or someone you care for from living a healthy life. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is here for you throughout your diabetes journey—whether you’re newly diagnosed, caring for someone with diabetes, a health care provider trying to help the people you see thrive, or someone seeking general knowledge about diabetes.

Fitness

Regular physical activity is an important part of diabetes management. Explore ways to jumpstart or maintain your fitness journey, whether it’s walking, running, swimming, or taking an aerobics class. Every lifestyle change makes a difference and has a significant impact on your health.

Weight Management

When you have diabetes, your weight can increase your risks for diabetes-related complications like heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. Discover how to find the right balance between healthy eating and exercise to help you lose weight, keep it off, and stay healthy.