November is Diabetes Prevention Month
In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled as the American population has aged and become more overweight or obese. November is a time to bring awareness to one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States. During American Diabetes Month, we want to remind people with diabetes, people at-risk for developing diabetes, and their families that self-management and prevention are keys to good health.
Diabetes’ many complications include blindness, neuropathy, kidney disease, and hearing loss, as well as increased risks for heart disease or stroke. It remains the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. People with diabetes can live healthy lives, but they must learn to manage their disease. Self-management helps people understand and manage their disease, learn the skills to check blood sugar, eat healthy, reduce additional health care risk factors, learn how to increase physical activity, and work with a health care team for additional support. Diabetes can impact so many different aspects of health and people can become overwhelmed. Self-management classes are excellent tools to learn the skills it takes to live healthy with diabetes. The Health District, as well as our community partners, offer classes and resources to help with self-management.
- SNHD is offering a Free Diabetes class. November 20th – 10 am-12 noon, at the Bill and Lillie Heinrich YMCA (4141 Meadows Lane) Call: 702-759-1270 to save your spot!
- Information on other classes can be found on our Diabetes Self-Management Classes flyer.
- Free Grocery store tour on November 21 at Albertsons: 9 am-10:30 am ( 4850 W Craig Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89130 -Craig and Decatur) Tour focuses on eating healthy with diabetes and questions for the pharmacist. Call or text 703-674-8068, must call to reserve your spot, no walk-ins!
- The Nevada Diabetes Resource Directory provides information about classes, prevention, clinics, specialists, support groups, and more.
- The Health District offers education about how people can lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes with a free, online diabetes prevention program called the Road to Diabetes Prevention. The program was developed specifically for people with prediabetes or who are at risk for diabetes. The six-session course is available in English and Spanish.
The good news is that it is possible with small steps to reverse prediabetes and these measures can help you live a longer and healthier life. For most people, there’s still time to turn things around. Check out our resources to help you manage your diabetes today!
