The importance of American Diabetes Month can’t be overstated

November brings us to the holiday rush, Thanksgiving travel — and American Diabetes Month. Just thinking about heavy holiday meals should be enough to bring our focus around to diet, exercise and this health concern. Fewer health issues in the country are more relevant right now than diabetes. From adult to childhood diabetes, type 1 and type 2, from the links to diet and the quality of our foodstuffs, diabetes is getting a lot of exposure right now.

And it needs to get a lot more still. Because it is a disease which strikes one out of eleven people in America. It is responsible for more fatalities annually than AIDS and breast cancer combined. There are more than 200,000 cases of juvenile diabetes diagnosed annually. All told, 86 million Americans are at risk for diabetes.

These are daunting and relevant statistics, but they only tell part of the story. That is why this year the theme for American Diabetes Month is “This is Diabetes.” The emphasis is on the real-life stories of Americans coping with, struggling with and oftentimes triumphing over diabetes. There will be:

• testimonies about the experience of being first diagnosed;
• the scary process of beginning a treatment regimen; and
• first-hand accounts about changes in diet, lifestyle and a general reshuffling of priorities.

Not only will it be great time to recognize our 29 million fellow citizens struggling with the disease, but we can all learn something to utilize in our own lives and help us to make better choices.

There are dozens of outlets to help contribute to the campaign against diabetes this November. From buttons to yard signs to posters, to social media platforms and community events. And of course, like all the events on our calendar commemorating the fight against diseases and disorders, we are hopeful the day will come these days on the calendar will open up again. That will mean a cure has been found. So to that end, research is always an important element and will always be a priority.

This November, explore the many avenues to lend your own voice and listen to the voices of others!

http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/american-diabetes-month.html

Out of alignment? Then celebrate National Chiropractic Health Month

Chiropractic care is increasingly being viewed as the first line of defense against musculoskeletal pain, a condition that afflicts millions of Americans every year. Chronic back and neck pain, along with other locations of the body, can be serious hindrances to life, work, enjoyment of free time, as well as overall state of mind. Nurses and other healthcare workers in particular can suffer from neck, back and joint pain and injuries, and that’s why National Chiropractic Health Month is an important date on the public-health calendar.

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Chiropractic care is particularly important in our current climate because of its emphasis on treatment and pain management through holistic methods rather than pills. The opioid crisis has well shown the pitfalls of that approach, and people suffering from chronic pain are seeking alternate sources for treatment.

For that reason alone, chiropractic care services are coming into their own. They are recommended now by The Journal of the American Medical Association, as well as the Joint Commission, as a viable option in place of many surgical procedures and an effective tool in pain management.

Many sufferers of musculoskeletal pain are already well aware of the benefits of chiropractic care. The relief afforded while embracing a non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical approach has made them believers. National Chiropractic Health Month looks to spread this good news to the scores of others who have yet to avail themselves of this tried-and-true method.

Perhaps you yourself are an untreated sufferer? Take this opportunity to educate yourself on chiropractic services, the nature of the treatment methods. Seek a consultation with an approved and respected chiropractor near you. Or if there is someone in your life who is dealing with chronic musculoskeletal pain, you could point her or him to chiropractic services as an option.

The American Chiropractic Association recommends seeking conservative solutions such as chiropractic care for pain management, both for their efficacy and affordability.  The positive results are there, just waiting to be discovered. October is the ideal time to learn about chiropractic care, and finally stamp out the pain through safe, drug-free alternative treatments!