November is National Diabetes Month, a time when communities across the country team up to bring attention to this ravaging disease. This year’s focus is on prediabetes and prevention. Today, we’re joined by Melissa Thomson, National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach from Randolph County Public Health to discuss Diabetes Awareness For All and how you can be an active participant in diabetes prevention.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), more than 34 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 1 in 4 of them don’t know they have it. A staggering 88 million, or 1 out of 3 Americans ages 18 or older have prediabetes. Diabetes is also one of the most common chronic conditions in school-age youth in the United States. The NIDDK suggests that roughly 193,000 youth under age 20 have diabetes. The disease also disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities. People of color are over twice as likely to be affected by diabetes.
Hearing these statistics, it’s likely you, someone you know or a family member who has been deeply affected by this disease is on your mind and in your heart as the year ends in family celebrations. Our goal this episode is to bring more awareness to the cause of diabetes prevention and management, and to educate you, dear borrowers about precaution and prevention.
References:
CDC Website - https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/diabetes-prediabetes.htm
NIDDK Website - https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/community-health-outreach/national-diabetes-monthvvvv
American Diabetes Month - https://www.diabetes.org/community/american-diabetes-month
Addressing Health Disparities for Minorities (CDC) - https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/disparities.html
VeryWell Health’s Prevention Tips - https://www.verywellhealth.com/observe-national-diabetes-awareness-month-5083359
Preventing Type 2 Diabetes in the Digital Age - https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/professionals/diabetes-discoveries-practice/preventing-type-2-diabetes-digital-age