By Rashidul Amin
Diabetes is a common disease, affecting a large population in the world. We all know diabetes is a chronic disease, impacting many people we know and love. But it’s important that awareness starts even before the problem is discovered, not after.
Why Diabetes Awareness is Important
Diabetes awareness is a hot topic. According to the CDC (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), almost 34.2 million people in the US are suffering from diabetes. This number is equivalent to 10.5% of the entire population in the country. What’s more, around 463 million people have been identified as diabetes patients across the world. What’s more, we can prevent or delay prediabetes or type 2 diabetes by educating the people about its symptoms, risks, and mitigating factors.
How to Raise Awareness Among People
1. Utilize the power of social media to inform people
Nowadays, we all use different social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. These social media platforms are a great way to connect and educate people about diabetes. Regardless of when you connect, you can always raise awareness about diabetes among your family and friends. Besides, you can share different news, articles, and research reports from the below reliable sources:
- The American Diabetes Association (ADA)
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- The World Health Organization (WHO)
- The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
2. Engage in a fundraiser campaign for diabetes education, advocacy, and research
Every year, you can find at least one fundraiser campaign about diabetes. The most popular fundraiser campaigns for diabetes are as follows:
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) One Walk™
- ADA Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes®
- International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Events, Workshops, and Activities
3. If you have diabetes, join or create a diabetes support group
People who are suffering from diabetes can feel overwhelmed. They can even be overwhelmed with emotions and negative thoughts. In short, they need mental support to overcome the trauma. In that case, you could start your support group. With the group, you could help these people adapt to a new life by allowing members to share tips, tricks and support.
4. You should never stop learning about diabetes
Since diabetes is a continuous disease with long-term effects, you should always try to learn about diabetes. Healthcare professionals are always coming up with new studies, breakthroughs, treatments for this disease. In that case, you could take an appointment with a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) to know more about diabetes and its impact on the life of your loved ones who suffer. This is how you would be able to raise awareness for you and your family.
