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Diabetes Awareness Month: Making a difference
November is here, which means it's Diabetes Awareness Month! It's the time to increase our efforts in spreading awareness, raise more funds toward key developments, and continue advancing to help those managing diabetes.
If you're interested in learning more, we've got you covered with some background information as well as some tips on how to get involved this year, both in person and virtually.
Some history
The month of November has been recognized as National Diabetes Awareness Month for quite some time now. It was established by Congress in November of 1975, but it wasn't official until the early 1980's when President Reagan declared it so — and in conjunction with the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) educational campaign, which trademarked November as "American Diabetes Month" in 1997.
During this time, diabetes organizations were expected to launch awareness efforts, initiatives, campaigns, and community outreach that heightened awareness and the need for fundraising.
To further expand its reach, the International Diabetes Federation established World Diabetes Day back in 1991. It comes around each year on November 14th, which marks the birthday of Frederick Banting, who is known as one of the two people who discovered insulin in 1922. However, it wasn't until 2006 when the United Nations passed a resolution that World Diabetes Day reached global recognition and became an official United Nations Day. You'll also notice that the color blue is attributed to global diabetes awareness and is a direct result of the resolution.
Every year, the World Diabetes Day campaign focuses on a unique and dedicated theme that runs for at least one year, sometimes more. The theme this year through 2023 is "Access to Care."
Some of the past themes include:
- 2020: The Nurse and Diabetes
- 2018–2019: The Family and Diabetes – diabetes concerns every family
- 2017: Women and diabetes – our right to a healthy future
- 2016: Eyes on Diabetes
- 2015: Healthy Eating
How to get involved
Two major parts of National Diabetes Awareness Month continue to be fundraising and raising awareness for all types of diabetes. Many people around the world participate in events and initiatives such as runs or walks to fundraise for particular organizations that are meaningful to them. Others may hold their own unique fundraiser events.
Some ways you might consider getting involved in fundraising and raising awareness — whether in person or virtually — include:
- Creating a fundraising page for a "run" or "walk" hosted by an organization such as JDRF
- Hosting a bake sale at your or your child's school and directing funds to the diabetes organization of your choice
- Attending galas, parties, or other events hosted by organizations like Beyond Type 1 or College Diabetes Network
- Creating a Facebook fundraiser of your own, asking for donations to the diabetes organization of your choice, and explaining why the cause is important to you
- Joining virtual galas, events, or charities streaming on platforms including Twitch that are typically hosted by organizations such as JDRF
- Hosting an informative talk at your or your child's school that promotes awareness around living with diabetes
- Sharing a diabetes-related social media post once a week through the month of November — and even beyond!
It's important to remember there is no one way to get involved in Diabetes Awareness Month. You can get as creative as you want! Share your knowledge and experiences of diabetes with the world, and connect with others who live with diabetes or love someone with diabetes as well.
For more detailed tips on how to get involved this year, check out this article.
