November 12, 2015

November is National Diabetes Month!

Woman holding feathers

Whether you are a person living with diabetes, a family member, caregiver, health care professional, or a part of the community such as an employer, member of the school staff, or clergy, you have an important role to play when it comes to diabetes education and support.

This issue, featuring information to support people living with or at risk for diabetes, is brought to you by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Indian Health Service (IHS) Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention. Many of these materials are free and have been reviewed to follow plain language principles.

Featured News and Health Information

We Have the Power To Prevent Diabetes! cover

We Have the Power to Prevent Diabetes offers tips to help American Indians and Alaska Natives at risk for type 2 diabetes move more and eat less to lower their risk for diabetes.


Did you have gestational diabetes when you were pregnant tipsheet cover

Did You Have Gestational Diabetes When You Were Pregnant? What You Need to Know is a free tip sheet from the NIDDK designed for women with a history of gestational diabetes. These women have a greater chance of getting diabetes later in life, and their offspring have a greater chance of becoming obese and getting type 2 diabetes. This tip sheet encourages women who had gestational diabetes to get tested for diabetes after pregnancy and take actions to help the whole family stay healthy.


Living a Balanced Life With Diabetes

Living a Balanced Life with Diabetes: A Toolkit Addressing Psychosocial Issues for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples can help health care professionals address psychosocial issues that often accompany diabetes. The toolkit contains a variety of culturally appropriate materials.


Kidneys, Treasures Education Program for Community Health Workers cover

Kidneys, Treasures Education Program for Community Health Workersaims to educate people at risk for kidney disease about the need for testing and steps they can take to protect their kidneys. The bilingual (English/Spanish) program is designed to help community health workers and community health representatives educate those living with diabetes about kidney disease and kidney failure. The content is intended to complement existing diabetes education curricula, but it also can be used as a stand-alone program. The toolkit can be used in the community, including community centers, hospitals, community health clinics, continuing education classes, schools, faith communities or within the home.


Body Weight Planner - Balancing Your Food and Activity

The NIH Body Weight Planner is a free online tool for adults to set personal physical activity and calorie targets for achieving and maintaining weight goals. The NIH and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have partnered to add the NIH Body Weight Plannerto USDA’s SuperTracker.


AIAN 2016 Planner cover

Pre-order A Year of Health: A Guide to a Healthy 2016 for You and Your Family health planners from the NIAMS. This FREE 12-month resource is created for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, and it offers tips and information on health issues related to bones, joints, muscles and skin. Fill out the pre-order form [PDF - 186 KB] and email it to the NIAMS Clearinghouse to get up to 150 free health planners for your community.


Woman shopping for apples

Food Insecurity Assessment Tool and Resource List [PDF - 230 KB] is an easy-to-use tool from the IHS to find out if your patients and/or clients have food insecurity, that is, whether they have access to enough nutritious food. Health care providers and/or program staff ask two questions that screen for food insecurity. The tool offers a section that staff can complete that lists community food assistance resources.


My Native Plate placemats

My Native Plate is a two-page nutrition education tool, designed as a placemat, depicting Native foods and foods found on or near Native communities. It is easy to understand and shows balanced meals with reasonable portion sizes. Order online as a pad of 50 placemats.


set of four eagle books

Set of Four Eagle Books teaches preschoolers through grade school children to find joy in physical activity, eating healthy foods and preventing diabetes. Each beautifully illustrated book contains Native American characters.

Events, Training, Grants and Funding

Diabetes Education and Support

In support of National Diabetes Month, the NIDDK’s National Diabetes Education Program is promoting the theme Diabetes Education and Support: Everyone Has a Role. What’s Yours? Use these resources to support diabetes awareness and outreach in your community.


Public service announcements and articles

Public service announcements and articles that feature Native Americans can be easily forwarded to newsletter editors. They provide information to readers about diabetes prevention and management through topics such as behavioral health, diabetes self-management, heart health, nutrition, weight loss and youth health. Click on the Media Tools tab to download these resources.


Woman's hand clicking a mouse button

Diabetes Online CME/CE Education is offered as 1-hour live online seminars and 1- to 2-hour recorded sessions that provide over 15 hours of Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Education (CME/CE) at no cost. Hosted by the IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention and presented by experts, these online education sessions discuss what’s new and describe practical tools to use with your patients with diabetes.


Step It Up! logo

Step It Up! Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities – The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has issued a “Call to Action” to encourage Americans to walk more and communities to create safe, accessible places for people to walk and wheelchairs to roll. Visit Step It Up! for resources to help increase walking and walkable communities for people of all ages and abilities

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