The month of November is a time when everyone can come together to bring awareness and understanding of Diabetes. This is a month where individuals, families, and their communities can contribute to support those with this health condition.

👁️The Impact of Diabetes

Approximately 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, with about 248,315 individuals – 10.1% of Iowa’s adult population – affected by the condition. Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by the body’s inability to produce or effectively use insulin. The two most prevalent types are type 1 and type 2.

🤔Diabetes Myths versus Facts: Check What You Know

❌Myth: Only Overweight people can get diabetes

✔️Fact: Diabetes can affect individuals of all sizes and body types. While maintaining a healthy weight and staying active can help reduce your risk, being overweight alone does not directly cause diabetes.


❌Myth: Consuming too much sugar is what causes diabetes

✔️Fact: In Type 2 diabetes, carbohydrates are what raise your blood sugar levels and may eventually lead to an impairment in the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin. Various factors can play into a person developing diabetes and it is not directly caused by consuming sugars.


❌Myth: Taking medications is all you need to do to keep your sugars under control

✔️Fact: Medications alone are not sufficient to manage blood sugar levels. Other approaches should include diet changes and exercise.


❌Myth: Only those who have diabetes need insulin

✔️Fact: Insulin is necessary for everyone; individuals with diabetes require external additional insulin because their bodies do not produce it, or cannot properly utilize it.


❌Myth: Awareness and Support for Diabetes should be limited to the month of November

✔️Fact: Understanding and supporting diabetes should be a year-round commitment. Education and awareness are important during all months of the year.


❌Myth: There are only two forms of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2

✔️Fact: In addition to Type 1 and Type 2, there are other forms of diabetes, including gestational diabetes and LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults) as well as double diabetes.

👏🏻What YOU Can Do for Diabetes This November

Diabetes Awareness Month

👏🏻Virtual/ In-Person Support Options

💪🏻Small Ways in Which You Can Make a Difference

  • Wear Blue: Show your support for those living with diabetes by wearing blue throughout November, especially on November 14th, which is World Diabetes Day
  • Spread the Word: Share your personal journey with diabetes or general information about the condition. This may help reduce the stigma and provide others with accurate facts. Taking the time to repost infographics on social media is a simple way to engage without a significant time commitment
  • Join an Organization: Get involved with a diabetes organization to help spread awareness and volunteer for meaningful platforms.
  • Participate in Research Trials: If you have diabetes, consider participating in research trials. This can aid in the development of new treatments while offering you the chance to try medications and in some cases receive compensation for your involvement.
  • Educate yourself: Take advantage of various resources to deepen your understanding of diabetes. Look for informative articles, TED talks, or other educational materials

Whether you choose to participate in something big or something small, every effort counts towards making a difference.

Summary

Diabetes can be a challenging journey, but it’s important to remember that it does not define an individual. Many people thrive and live very fulfilling lives while maintaining their diabetes. November is a good month to try and break any stigma that lies with this condition. Attending any of the events above, or finding more of your own is a good way to become more knowledgeable about diabetes and connect with others who have diabetes or are in support of those with diabetes. What are you going to do this November to help support Diabetes?