National Health Observances
National Health Observance Toolkit - November
American Diabetes Month
Sponsor: American Diabetes Association 
American Diabetes Month is a time to raise awareness of diabetes prevention and control. In the United States, 24 million people are living with diabetes and 57 million more are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Over time, if it’s not controlled, type 2 diabetes can cause serious health problems like heart disease, stroke, and blindness. You may be at risk for type 2 diabetes if you:
- Are overweight
- Exercise less than 3 times a week
- Are over 45 years old
- Have high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Are African American, Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American or Pacific Islander
- Have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
You can do a lot to lower your chances of getting type 2 diabetes by:
- Eating healthy.
- Watching your weight.
- Being active.
- Controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol.
Sample Announcement | Sample Tweets | E-cards | Web Badges | Get Involved | Related Tools on healthfinder.gov | Resources
Get the Word Out
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Sample Media and/or Newsletter or Listserv Announcement |
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Prevent Diabetes. Learn more: http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/consumer/prevent.htm.
Tasty recipes for people with diabetes & their families: http://www.ndep.nih.gov/media/tasty-recipes-508.pdf?redirect=true (PDF, 1MB).
Q. What is glucose? 50 Ways to Prevent Diabetes: http://bit.ly/jBTBg1.
Protect yourself. Know the risk factors for diabetes: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/riskfortype2/.
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Web Badge |
Get Involved
Take action to increase awareness about type 2 diabetes.
- Partner with your local gym or YMCA center to host a Diabetes Prevention Party focused on healthy eating habits and exercise. Give away free one-day gym passes, fitness classes, or work-out gear. Ask the fitness staff to host free demonstrations or fitness classes.
- Partner with local churches that have a health ministry. Make a presentation on type 2 diabetes prevention at their next health event.
- Host a cooking demonstration with diabetes-friendly recipes from a local nutritionist. Include healthy Thanksgiving recipes in your next newsletter or company email along with quick tips on how to prevent type 2 diabetes.
- Post tips on type 2 diabetes prevention on your employee bulletin board during the month of November.
- Encourage your members to get active. Invite local gyms to showcase their fitness classes and programs.
Adapted from the American Diabetes Association.
Contact the American Diabetes Association at askada@diabetes.org for more information and materials.
Related Tools on healthfinder.gov
Personal Health Tools
More Information (Health A-Z)
Quick Guide to Healthy Living
Resources
- American Diabetes Association
American Diabetes Month Sponsor - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Diabetes Translation, Diabetes and Me
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, November is American Diabetes Month
- Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health, American Indian/Alaskan Natives and Diabetes
- National Diabetes Education Program, I Have Diabetes
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Diabetes and High Blood Pressure: What African Americans Need to Know
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, Diabetes in Older People - A Disease You Can Manage
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