How to get involved during National Diabetes Awareness Month

What is National Diabetes Awareness Month?

November has been recognized as National Diabetes Awareness Month for several decades, including presidential proclamations starting in the 1980s. The month-long campaign aims to draw attention to diabetes, highlight advocacy efforts, and educate those not directly affected. The initiative also includes November 14, known globally as World Diabetes Day, which marks the birthday of Dr. Frederick Banting, the co-discoverer of insulin.

National Diabetes Awareness Month is represented by the blue circle logo, meant to represent diabetes across the globe. Cherise Shockley, a highly respected member of the Diabetes Online Community, also started an initiative to wear blue on Fridays during November and on World Diabetes Day to parallel the color of the graphic and bring additional awareness to this condition.

Participate in community events

The global focus on diabetes during November paves the way for large diabetes organizations to gather support via fundraising walks. For 2020, many of these events have transitioned from in-person walks to virtual events due to the ongoing pandemic. Even if you'll be walking alone, consider signing up to log a few miles with the financial support of your family or friends.

Here are a few groups to check out:

Local support groups or organization chapters often have extra events (even virtual ones) during National Diabetes Awareness Month. If you're interested in getting involved, do a quick Google search, look for diabetes groups on social media, or ask your endocrinologist for a list of local diabetes groups to join.

Utilize "word of mouth"

Utilize the "word of mouth" concept to connect and educate people about diabetes on a one-on-one basis . The best part about word of mouth? It's not limited to a designated month or day!

In general, I'm very open about living with T1D, often wearing my insulin pump site visibly on my arm or dialing up a bolus in the middle of a conversation. I view all of these outward symbols of diabetes as a segue to initiate conversation and educate the people I come in contact with.

I challenge you to think outside the box and have these conversations as often as you can. One of my favorite interactions every year is with my NASA doctor. The astronauts that come through her clinic are in near perfect shape, so my yearly physical for medical clearance is often a mini-lesson on all the new diabetes technology I use to manage my condition.

Don't be afraid to use your unique position as a diabetes expert throughout this month. Perhaps you can volunteer to deliver a presentation about diabetes or organize a new support group or instant messaging channel in your area.

Use social media as an advocacy tool

Social media can be a great tool for sharing what goes on behind the scenes with diabetes. You can leverage social media to spark up a diabetes conversation by posting a picture on your page of yourself performing an insulin pump site change or watching your CGM trend line. These small but tangible glimpses into the everyday mechanics of the condition can help illustrate the need for funding, research, technology, and a cure. Social media is also a great place to join diabetes communities where those navigating through diabetes management can support each other and connect.

If you enjoy long-form writing, an online blog can be a great place to document the highs and lows of living with diabetes. I've been writing my own blog sporadically for more than 10 years now, and it's incredibly empowering to be part of the Diabetes Online Community (known as the DOC for short). Sharing your story may be the push someone else needs to follow their dreams while living with diabetes.

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