November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Now is the time to help raise awareness about diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 34 million Americans are living with diabetes. That’s 1 in 11 Americans. Another 86 million are at risk.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death and causes more deaths than AIDS and breast cancer combined. Among those who have died from COVID-19, 40% were living with diabetes. Even though diabetes touches so many lives, many do not know the risk factors or the steps to take to manage it.

Whether you have diabetes or simply know someone who does, it is important to be an active participant in raising awareness for diabetes. Here are ways you can join the campaign during Diabetes Awareness Month:

• Share your story of diabetes. Share your triumphs and your challenges. Simply telling your story could make a big impact on someone else.
• Support friends and family members living with diabetes. Managing diabetes is about progress, not perfection. Being supportive of the healthy changes they make (big or small) shows you care.
• Be an advocate for diabetes to get the attention that it deserves. Knowledge is power. Visit https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-risk to find out what causes diabetes and find out how you can encourage others to take control.

To find local information, look for health fairs within your community. They are a good place to get an education, health screenings and other resources.

Editor's note: this blog was originally published on Nov. 8, 2016, and has since been updated.