Messaging and Media Tips for American Diabetes Month / World Diabetes Day:
November 2013 / November 14, 2013
The American Diabetes Association’s American Diabetes Month (ADM) serves as a time to come together as a
community to Stop Diabetes®! The goal of the observance is to raise awareness and focus the nation’s
attention on the issues surrounding diabetes and the many people who are impacted by the disease.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its member associations recognize World Diabetes Day on
Nov. 14 of each year to engage millions worldwide in diabetes advocacy and awareness. The goal of the
observance is to raise awareness of the growing concerns about the escalating health threat that diabetes now
poses. The 2013 campaign theme is Diabetes: Protect Our Future.
QIOs can use this observance as an opportunity to promote their work under the Improving Health for
Populations and Communities Aim. Messaging can be directed to beneficiaries, providers and partners across
all care settings.
Activities for consideration:
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Encourage your partners, providers, stakeholders and staff to participate in community diabetes walks
to promote national awareness of American Diabetes Month. Find a Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes
event near you: http://stepout.diabetes.org/site/PageServer?pagename=OUT_so_wherewewalk
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Call on patients and their families to submit an image to the American Diabetes Association’s Facebook
page representing what “A Day in the Life of Diabetes” means to them. The image should represent
how the disease impacts their lives. The picture will then make up a larger mosaic that shows the true
image of diabetes. Details here:
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanDiabetesAssociation/app_380832601989620
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Spread the word about the observance by encouraging your staff and participating partners and
providers to participate in “Blue Fridays,” an initiative asking people to wear blue for diabetes
awareness every Friday during November and on World Diabetes Day (Nov. 14).
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Circulate one or more of the YouTube videos below to partners, providers and stakeholders. You can
also post the videos on your organizational website to spread the word and empower people through
education.
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Act On Diabetes. Now. (International Diabetes Federation):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULVsbP2Chpo#at=23
Diabetes: Protect Our Future (International Diabetes Federation):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctxClb0wngA&feature=c4overview&list=UUAOhQFsm6AtiwYxPvHh6BOg
Medicare & You: Diabetes Awareness Month (CMS):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm8FSvH0hC0
Disseminate the following printable educational materials to your partners and providers or post them
on your website:
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American Diabetes Month 2013 Fact Sheet: http://www.diabetes.org/in-mycommunity/programs/american-diabetes-month/adm-2013-fact-sheet.pdf
Understand Diabetes, Take Control Booklet: http://www.idf.org/files/docs/WDD-booklet-ENfinal.pdf
Diabetes Prevention Program Fact Sheet: http://ndep.nih.gov/media/dpp-fact-sheet-508.pdf
Snapshot of Diabetes Fact Sheet: http://ndep.nih.gov/media/fs_gensnapshot.pdf
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Share World Diabetes Day posters with providers and partners. Many posters are available for
download at http://www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday/2009-2013/posters and
http://www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday/2013/materials/posters.
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Consider incorporating a patient story in this customizable article and include it in your organizational
newsletter to educate your readers about the impact of diabetes: http://www.diabetes.org/in-mycommunity/programs/american-diabetes-month/adm-2013-newsletter-insert.doc
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Raise awareness about diabetes risk factors by utilizing digital media. Consider the following tweets for
your organizational Twitter handle:
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November is American #Diabetes Month. Learn more & get involved at www.diabetes.org.
@AmDiabetesAssn
Participate in Blue Fridays with us to raise #diabetes awareness! Wear blue every Fri. this
month & on #WDD Thurs., Nov. 14.
Today is World #Diabetes Day. Learn more & help raise awareness:
http://www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday/about #WDD2013
CMS Resources QIOs Can Promote
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Information about diabetes screenings, supplies and self-management training is available at:
http://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11022.pdf
General Education and Background Resources
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American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/
American Diabetes Month: http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/programs/american-diabetesmonth/
World Diabetes Day: http://www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday/
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Diabetes Public Health Resource:
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/index.htm
Programs, materials and studies from the CDC are available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/features/livingwithdiabetes/