Friday, November 01, 2024
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November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Here are five ways that you can participate this year.
Learn something new about diabetes
World Diabetes Day is observed each year 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.
The UMass Diabetes Center of Excellence will once again have the Burns Bridge, which connects Worcester and Shrewsbury across Lake Quinsigamond, illuminated in blue lights on the night of November 14th.
Make a small change to develop a new healthy habit
While healthy eating and exercise are integral to diabetes management, there are other factors within your control to improve your 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. Most 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, similar to adding medication but without the side effects! Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover up to 10 hours of diabetes education the first year of diagnosis. Medicare also pays for two hours of yearly follow-up. Most commercial insurance plans offer similar benefits. The UMass Diabetes Center of Excellence has a team of Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) who provide 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 that are essential for improved health for people living with diabetes. They include healthy eating, physical activity, glucose monitoring, medication, problem-solving, healthy coping, 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.
