Tuesday, November 04, 2025
|
November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Below are five ways that you can participate this year.
Learn something new about diabetes
World Diabetes Day is observed on November 14, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting. He was the first person to isolate the human insulin hormone, which led to the life-saving treatment for people with diabetes in 1922. Learn about Banting’s incredible breakthrough research.
We will once again illuminate Burns Bridge, which connects Worcester and Shrewsbury across Lake Quinsigamond, in blue light on the night of November 14th.
Make a small change to develop a new healthy habit
While healthy eating and exercise are essential for managing diabetes, other factors within your control can enhance your overall health. They include getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, and increasing the number of steps you take each day. You can choose one that you feel can use improvement and set a goal to address it this month.
Most adults require between 7.5 and 9 hours of sleep each night. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water provides additional energy, improves your mood, enhances memory, and can also help reduce sugar cravings. Tracking daily steps has never been easier with the help of a pedometer, fitness tracking watch, or smartphone app. Many people aim for 10,000 steps a day, which is about 5 miles.
Schedule an appointment with a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Diabetes education has been shown to lower A1c and blood glucose levels, similar to adding medication, but without the side effects. Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover up to 10 hours of diabetes education during the first year of diagnosis. Medicare also pays for two hours of annual follow-up. Most commercial insurance plans offer similar benefits. Our team of Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) provides one-on-one or group sessions. Ask your provider for a referral for diabetes education if you’re interested in addressing any of the seven self-care behaviors essential for improved health for people living with diabetes. They include healthy eating, physical activity, glucose monitoring, medication management, problem-solving, healthy coping strategies, and reducing the risk of complications.
Inspect your feet
Individuals with diabetes need to inspect their feet regularly. This way, if something changes, you’ll notice it right away. About half of all people with diabetes have some nerve damage, often in the feet and legs. Neuropathy can cause loss of feeling in the feet. If you don’t feel pain in your feet, you may not notice a cut, blister, or sore, which, if left untreated, can become serious.
Know Your Numbers
If you’re living with diabetes, you should know your target blood sugar range as set by your care team. Checking blood glucose regularly helps to ensure it stays within your healthy target range. It's important to monitor blood glucose levels both over time (A1c testing) and at specific times throughout the day (meter testing). Learn more about glucose monitoring and how to avoid, recognize, and treat both high and low blood sugars.
