The Friday Five - American Diabetes Month

Follow and join the conversation with #DiabetesMonth and #DiabetesAwareness.

November is American Diabetes Month, a time to learn the latest about the disease, help spread awareness and research what you can do to help join the fight to find a cure. This week’s Friday Five looks at the cost of diabetes, new ways to treat and support those with diabetes and some of the latest research about how it can be prevented.

The Cost of Diabetes in the U.S.: Economic and Well-Being Impact
In honor of American Diabetes Month the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index (@WellBeing_Index) released a new report on the financial and well-being effects of diabetes in the U.S. According to the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index™, the national prevalence of diabetes increased from 10.6% in 2008 to 11.5% for the first nine months of 2017. This increase has had a direct impact on health care costs and health outcomes. This Gallup and Sharecare research also examines diabetes and its relationship to key well-being and productivity outcomes.

This is the month to learn about Diabetes. #ThisIsDiabetes #dstmrac pic.twitter.com/4Izk2C4o0d

— MRAC DeltaSigmaTheta (@dstmrac) November 14, 2017

American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association (@AmDiabetesAssn) provides a wealth of resources for those living with diabetes, caring for someone who is, or fighting to stop it. In addition to an abundance of information, the Association runs a variety of initiatives and campaigns to help support, encourage and inspire those living with the disease. Be sure to check out their newest initiative In It Together part of which includes the In It Together podcast series where you can listen to real-life stories of overcoming challenges. Finally, check out two of the longer standing campaigns #ThisIsDiabetes and #DearDiabetes on social media.

Diabetes doesn’t care who you are, how old you are, or how healthy you feel. It visits someone new every 21 seconds. This month, join @AmDiabetesAssn and write a letter to Diabetes and share it on social media using #DearDiabetes. Learn more at https://t.co/Mjj5HYHIq5 pic.twitter.com/yUv6oiOjB7

— DiabetesSisters (@diabetessisters) November 14, 2017

Virta Health
Virta Health (@Virtahealth) is a San Francisco-based “online specialty medical clinic” that reverses type 2 diabetes safely and sustainably. Sam Inkinen MSc, MBA cofounded Virta with a team of physicians, scientists, and technologists trained at Stanford, MIT, and Harvard. Inkinen is a data-driven entrepreneur and expert in building category-leading companies. It was his personal connection to diabetes and passion to advance health on a global scale that was the motivation behind Virta Health. Virta’s mission is to reverse diabetes in 100 million people by 2025.

The Diabetes Perspective Summit
E4 Diabetes Solutions (@E4Diabetes) is currently hosting The Diabetes Perspective Summit, a free online conference packed with speakers who are experts on diabetes. While the conference has already begun, there is still time to sign up and listen to the interviews around the clock until the end of the conference. Learn how you can apply the latest science, clinical findings, and actual patient case studies to your situation. Learn to understand nutrition science and healthy-cooking secrets—and learn your potential for reversing type 2 diabetes.

Who’s speaking at Tuesday’s free #DiabetesPerspectives Summit? Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr Michael Greger, Brenda Davis, Dr. Wes Youngberg, Caroline Trapp, & Ocean Robbins! Sign up now: https://t.co/LrC6l5rzfv @DrNealBarnard @nutrition_facts @drspthompson @wyoungberg #diabetes #WDD pic.twitter.com/BVLdKdC7p9

— E4 DiabetesSolutions (@E4Diabetes) November 14, 2017

13 Ways to Prevent Diabetes
There is a lot a person can do to increase their chances of preventing or reversing diabetes. Often times a prediabetes diagnosis can become a strong motivator to make necessary and important lifestyle changes to improve your odds. Although there are certain factors you can’t change — such as your genes, age or past behaviors — there are many actions you can take to reduce the risk of diabetes. Healthline lists 13 ways to avoid diabetes and they are all based on scientific research.