November is Diabetes Awareness Month. The following events are available to UD employees:

Nov. 9 to Dec. 21: Diabetes Self-Management Workshop

A free, six-session diabetes self-management workshop will begin Nov. 9 at the STAR Health Sciences Complex on the University of Delaware’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus in Newark. The program will meet from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. each Thursday from Nov. 9 to Dec. 21 (no class on 11/23) in the STAR Health Nurse Managed Primary Care Center (Suite 130). To register for the workshop, contact Celeste Peart at (302) 831-6136 or cpeart@udel.edu. This workshop is open to UD employees and the general public. The workshop is presented by the Delaware Chronic Disease Self-Management Program.

Nov. 14: Healthy Holiday Eating

Healthy holiday eating is tough especially for people with diabetes. Come learn how to navigate the dinner table and what you can do whether you’re visiting for the holidays or cooking the big meals to ensure that your blood sugar stays steady. The session takes place from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Alison Hall, room 222. Please register in advance.  

Nov. 15: Holiday Heroes Blood Drive

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. What better way to give back this holiday season than by attending the University of Delaware Blood Drive on Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Carpenter Sports Building (Little Bob) Gym 1. The event features diabetes screenings to measure blood sugar levels. Sign up the Blood Bank of Delaware website; use the sponsor code “UDCS” and select the most convenient time. The Campus Wellbeing Collaborative set a goal of reaching 225 donors. Light snacks and refreshments are offered.

About diabetes

More than 29 million American adults have diabetes and one out of four don’t know it. The three main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetics are unable to produce their own insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar). Type 2 diabetics are unable to keep blood sugars at normal levels due to the body not using insulin well. Gestational diabetes is when a woman has diabetes while pregnant, which not only can lead to type 2 diabetes later in life, but can also affect the health of the baby.

To manage diabetes:

• Follow a healthy eating plan including more consumption of fruits and vegetables,

• Get physically active even if it’s 10 to 20 minutes a day,

• Take diabetes medicine as prescribed by your doctor, and

• Test your blood sugar daily to understand how it is affected daily.

For those who are not diabetic, use Diabetes Awareness Month to take control of your health. Diabetes can happen to anyone; incorporating lifestyle changes can reduce your risk. Take steps like being more physically active, which can help with weight loss and lower your blood sugar, and working on a healthier regulated diet like eating more fiber and whole grain products.