Diabetes Awareness Month 2024: Ways to Participate as a Healthcare Provider

Every November, providers, patients, and healthcare organizations recognize Diabetes Awareness Month (also known as National Diabetes Month). In 2024, it’s more important now than ever to spread awareness about the disease, preventative measures, and treatment options.

Diabetes leads to a host of other chronic conditions, like heart disease and kidney issues, and it’s the leading cause of preventable blindness in adults. More than 96 million American adults have prediabetes, but eight in ten don’t know it.

 

 

Although these statistics feel bleak, preventing diabetes and reducing its impact is possible through collaboration between healthcare providers and patients. Diabetes Awareness Month is a great opportunity to provide individuals with diabetes information and access to the right resources.

If you’re wondering what to do during this November’s Diabetes Awareness Month, keep reading to learn how to contribute to diabetes awareness and improve patient outcomes.

What is Diabetes Awareness Month?

Diabetes Awareness Month was established in 1975. However, it wasn’t nationally recognized until the 1980s, when November became Diabetes Awareness Month.

During Diabetes Awareness Month, various healthcare and wellness organizations launch promotional campaigns (such as World Diabetes Day), hold events, and partner together to show support for the diabetes community. Some initiatives focus on prevention and testing for prediabetes among at-risk populations, while others offer support and management resources for people living with the disease.

The Impact of Diabetes in America

The need for these preventative testing measures and disease management resources during Diabetes Awareness Month is due to the consequential effects of diabetes.

Almost 100 million Americans have prediabetes. When diabetes develops, it can lead to kidney failure, heart disease, nerve damage, vision loss, and a plethora of other health complications.

Here are some statistics that convey the overall impact of diabetes in the United States.

• For adults with diagnosed diabetes, 39% have chronic kidney disease and 12% have vision loss or blindness.
• 15 million US-based patients with diabetes have retinal disorders
• < 50% of patients with diabetes receive an annual diabetic eye exam for diseases like diabetic retinopathy
• Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.

As listed above, diabetic retinopathy is just one example of a disease that can quickly change the quality of life for a patient with diabetes. Events like National Diabetes Month are instrumental in diminishing the negative effects of diabetes and improving diabetes education and awareness nationwide.

The Impact of Diabetes Education and Awareness

For people living with diabetes, understanding how to self-manage the disease is the key to improving outcomes. 

Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) programs are proven to help patients in a number of ways:

• Reduce the onset and/or worsening of diabetes-related complications.
• Improve quality of life and promote lifestyle behaviors
• Improve patient self-efficacy, empowerment, and healthy coping skills.

Prevention is also a key cornerstone of Diabetes Awareness Month, and recent campaigns have been effective in reaching those at risk. The American Medical Association, CDC, and the Ad Council teamed up to create public service announcements to promote awareness of the prevalence of prediabetes. The “Do I Have Prediabetes?” campaign is one powerful and easily accessible tool for individuals who may want a simple assessment before they choose to pursue treatment.

How Providers Can Promote Diabetes Awareness

During National Diabetes Month, there are several ways to get involved. Whether you want to bolster your diabetes education, train your team on the latest protocols, or participate in community outreach, there are ways for you to get involved:

1. Use the American Diabetes Association’s American Diabetes Month toolkit to show your support on social media. 
2. Don’t forget to use the hashtags #DiabetesAwarenessMonth, #NDAM, and #KnowYourNumbers to track the conversation and contribute to it. 
3. Share the National Diabetes Awareness Month flyer and social media posts to provide tips for preventing diabetes-related health problems.
4. World Diabetes Day, hosted by the International Diabetes Foundation, offers several ways to participate, including educational courses, surveys on diabetes education, and awareness materials that can be posted in local communities. 
5. Blue is the official Diabetes Awareness Month color, so remember to wear the color blue throughout the month, or find a blue ribbon pin to wear.

Promote Awareness and Access to Care Every Day

Diabetes prevention and treatment methodologies have evolved significantly, but there are still care gaps for many people. For example, when providers fall short of HEDIS diabetic care measures, it’s often caused by a lack of patient access and awareness of proper care.

Diabetes Awareness Month can be a good time to take stock of your services and capabilities to see how you can promote better prevention, self-management, and compliance year-round. These resources can help you make long-term changes in the way you approach patients with diabetes and those at risk:

1. Locate the diabetes prevention program near you via the CDC’s program finder.
2. Access the CDC’s Diabetes Prevention Impact Toolkit, which includes interactive resources for promoting actionable type II diabetes plans.
3. For pharmacists, the Action Guide for Community Pharmacists helps you reach people at high risk of developing diabetes.

Close Patient Care Gaps This November

Investing in strategies to close patient care gaps is a powerful way your healthcare team and practice can contribute to fighting the diabetes epidemic. 

One of the most devastating yet preventable diabetes-related complications is diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults in the U.S. Yearly retinal eye exams for diabetic retinopathy can catch the disease before it begins. Unfortunately, many patients either do not understand the importance of these exams or lack access to specialists who can conduct a fundus exam.

New advances in retinal imaging are opening up more access to diabetic retinopathy screenings across patient populations. One example of this is the IRIS teleretinal imaging solution that can be used for efficient diabetic retinopathy exams. The image is then sent to the IRIS Reading Center (IRC), where a network of licensed eye care providers review it and provide their diagnosis directly on the patient record.

IRIS is also well-suited for outreach efforts during Diabetes Awareness Month and throughout the rest of the year. Handheld fundus cameras are useful for conducting exams and spreading awareness about the impact of diabetic retinopathy. These exams can be conducted at health fairs, community events, or even for in-home healthcare.

To learn more about how IRIS helps raise awareness and access to diabetes management while closing care gaps, schedule a demo today. 

Diabetes Awareness Month FAQs:

What day is National Diabetes Day?

November 14th is National Diabetes Day/World Diabetes Day, as recognized by the International Diabetes Federation.

When is Diabetes Awareness Month?

November is Diabetes Awareness Month.

What is Diabetes Awareness Month?

Diabetes Awareness Month is a nationally recognized time for communities, healthcare providers, and individuals to raise awareness and gain understanding about diabetes.

What is the Color for Diabetes Awareness Month?

If you want to coordinate your wardrobe with this important cause in November, remember that the diabetes awareness month color is blue.

How Can I Celebrate Diabetes Awareness Month?

You can initiate conversations about diabetes and diabetic retinopathy awareness with friends and family, post on social media, wear blue, find local community events, and post signage in your office spaces if you’re a healthcare professional.

 

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SM 162, Rev B