By Jared Eagle- Program Director

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Every year the Diabetes Program dedicates specific activities in November- outside of our daily work- to educate, provide resources, and inform our communities of the risks and prevention methods related to type 2 diabetes.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person conferences, screenings and community functions are not an option this year so we have scheduled a few other alternatives to help raise awareness this month.

Throughout Diabetes Awareness Month the Diabetes Program will be hosting virtual diabetes BINGO for all six communities on Fort Berthold.  Diabetes BINGO is a fun and entertaining way for participants to learn about diabetes and win prizes at the same time.  All prizes have been provided by each segment representative, as well as the Chairman.  We greatly appreciate their support for each community and the Diabetes Program.  

Scheduled Bingos will be held on the following dates for each segment: November 5th Twin Buttes, November 10th Mandaree, November 12th White Shield, November 17th Parshall, November 19th Four Bears, and November 24th New Town.  Each virtual Bingo will be streamed live on Zoom, you must be a resident in the segment to participate in the specific community BINGO.  To register call the Diabetes Program or visit our website at fortbertholddiabetes.com.   

November 2nd – 8th is the Notah Begay Healthy Kids Healthy Futures – National Week of Native Youth Health and Fitness. Throughout the week, the Diabetes Program will be providing healthy lifestyle videos and education for all ages.  Each video will be posted to our YouTube and Facebook pages, which will include both indoor and outdoor activities to get youth moving and promote healthy choices.       

World Diabetes Day is Saturday, November 14th.  World Diabetes Day is a global occasion in which people with diabetes, health professionals, diabetes advocates, media, the general public and government organizations unite in the fight against diabetes.  The theme for World Diabetes Day 2020 is “The Nurse and Diabetes.” The campaign this year aims to raise awareness around the crucial role that nurses play in supporting people living with diabetes.

Nurses currently account for over half of the global health workforce. They do outstanding work to support people living with a wide range of health concerns. People who either live with diabetes or are at risk of developing the condition need nurses support too.  People living with diabetes face a number of challenges, and education is a vital component to equip nurses with the skills to support them.  As the number of people with diabetes continues to rise across the world, the role of nurses and other health professional support staff becomes increasingly important in managing the impact of the condition.  Healthcare providers and governments must recognize the importance of investing in education and training. With the right expertise, nurses can make the difference for people affected by diabetes.

There remains a significant need for more education and funding to equip nurses around the world with the skills to support people living with diabetes and those at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.  Nurses play a key role in diagnosing diabetes early to ensure prompt treatment, tackling the risk factors for type 2 diabetes to help prevent the condition, and provide self-management training and psychological support for people with diabetes to help prevent complications.

To stay connected to the Fort Berthold Diabetes Program go to our website at fortbertholddiabetes.com or our Facebook page Fort Berthold Diabetes.  You can also reach us by calling 627-7931.