Diabetes Awareness Month–What Does It Mean to You?
November is right around the corner ( time is flying by far too fast this year), and if you’re a diabetic in the US, Canada, or the UK, that means it’s time for Diabetes Awareness Month.
A few points of reference: Until I began working for the JDCA, I had no concept of Diabetes Awareness Month. In nine years of living with diabetes, I had never even heard of it. Not once. In fact, I find it to be strange phenomenon–an event to inspire awareness of the disease and comradery with diabetics that almost entirely exists within the online space. By contrast, last month was Breast Cancer awareness, which brought people staked outside of our office in pink sweaters handing out pink ribbons for the majority of the month. In fact, I can’t think of a time I wasn’t “aware” of Breast Cancer thanks to these campaigns, but I’d bet that if you polled 100 people on the street, less than 10 would know about D-Awareness Month. It’s quaint. Subtle.
Or perhaps more accurately, ineffective.
You see, something I’ve been struggling with is that I cannot accurately describe what the purpose of the month is. Is it about raising awareness for this disease to the general public? If that’s the case, it’s failing miserably. Is it about bringing diabetics together? Possibly, though it seems strange that it would happen under the guise of “awareness”. Is it a movement? An affirmation of life as a diabetic? A push to create a better, simpler life for us all? Is it all of the above, or none of it?
I suppose I’m asking questions that I’m don’t particularly know how to answer, so I’ll put this to you guys: What does this month mean to you? How do you use it?
Reblogged this on Meals on Wheels.
Well, to be honest, I’ve been a Type 1 diabetic for 35 or so years, and I did not know that November was Diabetic Awareness Month, so don’t feel left out, lol! I had heard of it, but like you, know little about it. It’s ironic that DA month is for being aware of this disease, but nobody seems to go out and try to make people aware of it.
Awareness, it seems to me. Be aware of the symptoms. Be aware of people with diabetes and the value and importance of good coverage for diabetes education. Would be great if it could be a call to action, such as encouraging people to get their BG tested regularly. And, asking people to donate, with stipulation for a Practical Cure to one of the charities that fund such research projects.
Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, so your doctor may prescribe statins even if your cholesterol levels are only borderline high. Before drug therapy, he may have you stop smoking, lose weight, reduce fat and cholesterol intake, and exercise. Heart disease is the main killer of people with diabetes.