National Diabetes Awareness Month takes place every year in November, and the purpose of this month is to raise awareness about living with the disease.
The focus of this year’s month is raising awareness about screening and early diagnosis, and the complications and health problems associated with unmanaged diabetes.
Getting the right treatment for diabetes can mean living a long and healthy life, so involvement is a must for anyone suffering from diabetes, or anyone with a loved one who is.
Reaching Out on World Diabetes Day This November
World Diabetes Day takes place each year on November 14, right in the middle of National Diabetes Awareness Month. November 14 is a day that brings together doctors, communities, and people who are affected by diabetes, which afflicts nearly 30 million Americans. This year, you can get involved in a number of ways, including:
- Organizing a World Diabetes Day event or activity in your community, family, or workplace
- Encouraging friends and family to get screened
- Raising awareness about the symptoms and complications of diabetes
- Sharing a blue circle selfie, with your face surrounded by a blue ring
Keeping People Healthy
Without a proper diagnosis and proper treatment, unmanaged diabetes can cause a number of serious health problems, including:
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Complications leading to amputation
- Blindness
- Eye disease
- Kidney disease
By learning about these complications, their causes, and how to prevent them, the organizers of National Diabetes Awareness Month and World Diabetes Day aim to educate people about the seriousness of diabetes, and to help those suffering to live long, happy, and healthy lives.
Helping People Find Help
If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, one of the best things you can do is find yourself a support network that can help you with education, treatment, and management of the disease.
This can include friends, family, medical professionals, and other people with diabetes. There are support groups out there, but you can also create your own network of people who can exercise together, encourage one another, share healthy recipes and meals, and talk about the disease.
Dealing with the Daily Struggles of Diabetes
One of the first things you'll need to learn after a diabetes diagnosis is how to manage the disease, and there are four main ways to do this: diet, exercise, medication, and managing blood sugar.
Diet: Eat a healthy and balanced diet—cut down on salt and sugar intake, and increase consumption of fruits and veggies.
Exercise: Leading an active life is very important when it comes to managing diabetes, because exercise can help control blood sugar.
Medication: If your doctor has prescribed any medication, make sure you take it as indicated, every day.
Managing blood sugar: Along with following the steps above, track your blood sugar multiple times a day with your blood glucose meter, and know your blood sugar targets.
Diabetes affects nearly 10 percent of the population, meaning nearly everyone is directly or indirectly impacted by this disease. Apple Valley Plumbing wants to help the cause by spreading awareness, and encourages everyone to participate in National Diabetes Awareness Month.
And while we may not be able to help you out with medical needs, we can at least help you ensure that your house and furnace are ready for the cold weather that November will bring. Call the Apply Valley Plumbing Company, in Apple Valley, MN at 612-387-1207 to schedule an appointment today.