November is National Diabetes Month! Even if you are not a diabetic, it is important to stay informed regarding diabetes, as it is very likely you know one of the over 29 million people in the United States that has diabetes. This is reflected in the National Diabetes Education Program’s (NDEP) 2015 theme of Diabetes Education and Support: Everyone Has A Role. What’s Yours? And yes, we all have a role.

If you have diabetes, your role is to manage the disease, keep an open dialog with your physician, and stay informed. If you are a caregiver for someone with diabetes, your support is essential to allowing for better disease management. Caregivers that follow diabetic diets not only are providing great support, but also are supporting their own health.

Health care providers can aid with improved health outcomes for some with the disease by keeping the dialog open with patients, referring patients to diabetes education classes and support groups, and by encouraging their patients to take an active role in their disease management.

If you are at risk for developing diabetes, a healthy lifestyle can help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. Don’t know the risk factors that increase your chances of developing diabetes? They are family history, weight, fat distribution, race, age, sedentary lifestyle, prediabetes, gestational diabetes, and polycystic ovary syndrome, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Educate yourself and lead a healthy lifestyle today to improve your overall quality of life for the future.

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