November 2007 is American Diabetes Month. This year, the focus of the American Diabetes Association is to put a face to the 1 in 4 Americans who have diabetes or are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The ADA will be highlighting these varied “faces” of diabetes by focusing each week on a different group of people affected by diabetes.

Week 1 (November 1 – 3) will highlight caregivers. Caring for children with diabetes can be challenging. The ADA provides a variety of resources for parents and other caregivers to help them cope with these challenges and provide the best care possible.

Week 2 (November 4 – 10) will focus on employees. By encouraging a healthy workplace, the ADA hopes to decrease the threat of type 2 diabetes. Learn how you can do your part to fight diabetes on the job and encourage workplace wellness using the ADA’s Diabetes in the Workplace resources. You can even host an ID Day to show your support for diabetes education and prevention.

Week 3 (November 11 – 17) will focus on the worldwide diabetes epidemic. There are almost 250 million people who live with diabetes around the world. In order to fight the expected rise to 380 million by 2020, the ADA will focus on spreading awareness of this worldwide health threat. As part of a United Nations (UN) Resolution, November 14th has been designated as World Diabetes Day in an effort to raise awareness among partnering nations of the risk of “diabetes and related complications as well as its prevention and care.”

Week 4 (November 18 – 24) will focus on at-risk populations. Minorities are at higher risk of developing diabetes than other populations. The ADA encourages people to learn more about how African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans are affected by diabetes.

Week 5 (November 25 – 30) will focus on youth and type 1 diabetes. Young people often have the most urgent need for care and support and the ADA provides information for young people with diabetes. In a new effort to support young people with type 1 diabetes and their families, the ADA will launch the new Planet D campaign in November.

Enjoy American Diabetes Month and take advantage of the awareness efforts of the ADA. Get involved in your community and workplace events and get informed about your risk for developing diabetes. It could save your life.

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."

The summer heat is gone and the autumn breeze is blowing. Why not take advantage of the cooler weather and get outside for some new activities. Autumn is the perfect time to refresh your fitness routine. Try some of the fun-filled activities below to get some exercise without hitting the gym.

Are you ready for some football? Get a group of friends and family together for a game of touch football. Head over to the park or your gather in your backyard and have some fun! You’ll be able to enjoy each others’ company and get that heart rate revved up while you’re at it. An hour of touch football will burn about 550 calories*.

Hit the trails. The leaves are changing and the air is crisp. Enjoy it all while hiking local trails. An hour of hiking can burn more than 400 calories. Find a local trail at hikingandbackpacking.com, Gorp, or Wildernet and get outdoors to enjoy the scenery.

Pedal through your neighborhood. Pull out that bike and take a ride around your community. Ride through a local park or bike trail, or just take a few trips around the block and check out your neighbors’ fall decorations. Either way, enjoy the fresh air and the local sights. A leisurely, hour-long ride will burn about 280 calories while a more moderate effort will burn about 560 calories.

Clean up the yard. The leaves are starting to fall, the garden needs to be winterized, and the shrubs need trimming. There’s plenty of exercise to be had in your own back yard. An hour of raking burns 281 calories, while gardening can burn 350 calories an hour. Pull on the gardening gloves and the windbreaker and get out the rake. You’ll burn calories galore.

However you choose to get your activity in this fall, enjoy the fall weather and changing leaves. Before you know it they’ll be gone, and so will a few more pounds!

*Calories burned are based on a 155-pound person. Source: NutriStrategy

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."

Have you or your loved ones been affected by diabetes? Are you and your family looking for a way to give back to others? Do you enjoy being creative? Then check out the Inspired by Diabetes initiative. According to the website:

“Inspired by Diabetes is a global campaign asking people with diabetes, as well as their family, friends and healthcare professionals, to express how diabetes has impacted their lives — and share those stories with others around the world.”

The initiative is hoping to get those who have been touched by diabetes to share their journeys and triumphs through the Creative Expressions Competition. And if you enter, you won’t just be sharing your story–you’ll be helping children around the world live with and overcome the disease. For every entry to the Creative Expressions Competition, Eli Lilly and Company will make a donation to the Life for a Child Program on behalf of the entrant. The Life for a Child Program uses donations to provide insulin, diabetes supplies and diabetes education to children around the world. In addition, Eli Lilly and Company will support initiatives to help children with diabetes here in the United States.

So what are you waiting for? If you have a diabetes story to tell, why not do it now? You’ll inspire others through your experience and help children, here in the U.S. and across the globe, receive the treatment and education they need to live with diabetes.

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."