November is an exciting month. We celebrate National Diabetes Month and World Diabetes Day. Plus, we get to exercise our right to vote.

I love this quote by Sharon Salzberg, “Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country and this world.”

Ms. Salzberg’s expression is the perfect segue to this year’s Diabetes Month Celebration theme; Taking care of Youth with Diabetes. When we take care of children with diabetes, we are making a long-term commitment to our families, communities, and the future. Diabetes Specialists are natural advocates for children and families living with diabetes.

We are excited to share helpful resources to support you with ongoing advocacy, education, and emotional support for young people living with diabetes.

November also kicks off our holiday season extravaganza. Celebrating during a pandemic is going to present many challenging situations and awkward conversations around safety. To help out, we are sharing our Stress Management Strategies for the Holidays handout. Plus, our dietitian expert, Dawn DeSoto, bravely explores her personal story of stress and sugar overconsumption. She provides some delicious low sugar recipes to help ease us through the holidays.

Lastly, as part of our annual celebration, we are excited to invite you to two FREE Webinars. Diabetes Management in Tots to Teens and our Gut & Skin Microbiome Webinar. We will look into COVID and gut health plus explore some new science that might change our showering habits.

We are grateful for family and friends. We are thankful for each one of you and the message of hope you share with our diabetes community.

In health and gratitude,

Coach Beverly, Bryanna, and Jackson

Click here to read our full November newsletter.
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FREE Webinar – Getting to the Gut, Meet Your Microbiome airs November 9th at 11:15 am PST

Join the wonderment as we explore the role of our Microbiome.

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“This Webinar is filled with Bev’s energy, knowledge, and passion for diabetes that she replicates in all her teachings. She puts a demand on herself to be a mentor to all. Her information is well organized, full of current/relevant research, and helps CDCES’ view into the future as a changing world impacts diabetics. I find her to be the most exciting and engaging educator and … OUTSTANDING teacher!!” – recent participant

This one-hour complimentary journey will expand your view of how the trillions of bacterial hitchhikers profoundly influence our health. We will discuss how foods, the environment, and our medical practices have impacted our gut bacteria over time and strategies we can take to protect these old friends.

Webinar topics:

• Discuss the latest research on our microbiome
• State the relationship between gut health and diabetes risk
• Describe 3 strategies to get our microbiome back to better health.

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Accreditation: Diabetes Education Services is an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider 12640, and Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), Provider DI002. Since these programs are approved by the CDR it satisfies the CE requirements for the CDCES regardless of your profession.* 

The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the CDCES exam. CBDCE does not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the CDCES exam, except for those published by CBDCE.

Taking Care of Youth Resources

Almost 200,000 people under the age of 20 are living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This makes diabetes the most common chronic condition in school-age youth in the United States.

Living with diabetes is challenging, no matter their age. Being a young person with diabetes presents the additional challenge of managing glucose during a period of intense hormonal fluctuations and the complexity of managing a social life, extra-curricular activities, and risk-taking behaviors. For caregivers, advocating for the rights of school-age children with diabetes can be time-consuming and full of challenges.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), has put together a Toolkit for health care professionals and caregivers alike to help navigate this challenging time.

Health Professional Toolkit – To help raise awareness about the best care for youth with diabetes, this toolkit by the NIDDK, includes social media posts that you can easily copy and share.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – Type 1 Diabetes Resources and Support

Articles on NIDDK Website

Diabetes care and the Adolescent Population: Navigating the Transition of Roles and Responsibilities. In this Q & A session, David Schwartz, Ph.D., shares insights on how providers can facilitate shared responsibility for diabetes care while minimizing conflict between adolescents and their parents/guardians.

Managing Diabetes at School – In a perfect world, all teachers and other school staff would understand how to manage diabetes. In the reality, parents and caregivers need to provide information to the school and work with staff to keep children safe and healthy, no matter what the school day brings. This link includes information and a downloadable Diabetes Medical Management Plan.

The Role of the Community Environment in Managing Diabetes Risk – this diabetes discoveries and practice blog are full of interesting, short articles and presentations on a range of critical and timely topics. You can sign up to receive blog notifications too.

Guiding Principles for the Care of People with Diabetes – These Guiding Principles aim to identify and synthesize areas of general agreement among existing guidelines to help guide primary care providers and health care teams to deliver quality care to adults with or at risk for diabetes.

National Diabetes Month Helpful Resources

1. ADA’s Risk Quiz: 60-second online risk assessment for type 2 diabetes. ADA created a self-assessment and aversion to fill out the assessment for others. There’s also a printable version in English & Spanish that can be distributed to help ascertain risk. This is a great first step in helping individuals consider coming in for an appointment
2. Sweet People Club: Theresa Garnero founded the Sweet People Club which provides education, support, and community for individuals with prediabetes or type 2 and their families. She has excellent resources on meal planning and active living, plus she provides a free guide on flexible meal planning.
3. Spanish Language Resources: language can be a barrier to adequate and quality care. ADCES has created a number of free downloads for people with diabetes and prediabetes, which have been translated into Spanish.
4. Free Monofilaments: Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention (LEAP) provides monofilaments for free (just send them an envelope with postage!). Use these monofilaments, which delivers 10 grams of pressure, to identify those at risk of developing foot problems. (The ADA Foot Examination Pocket Chart fully explains how to conduct a foot exam, including a picture explanation of how to use a monofilament).

Websites that offer FREE handouts for diabetes education

ADA’s FREE Living with Type 2 Diabetes Program: ADA’s program includes six digital, printable journeys to teach how to live well with diabetes; a monthly e-newsletter with tips, stories, and more resources; six free issues of the Diabetes Forecast® magazine; access to an online community and local events. (The program is available in both English and Spanish).

ADA Diabetes Education Library Offers over 170 topics on diabetes that are searchable by topic and language. A treasure trove of educational info.

CDC Diabetes Prevention Program Curricula and Handouts  This site offers excellent resources for those interested in offering Diabetes Prevention Education.

National Diabetes Education Program is an online library of resources compiled by the 

Last year, during our campus tour at Santa Clara University, the docent took a moment to recognize and thank the Indigenous Peoples’ for the use of the land that we were gathered on.

“We pause to acknowledge that Santa Clara University sits on the land of the Ohlone and Muwekma Ohlone people. We remember their continued connection to this region and give thanks to them for allowing us to live, work, learn, and pray on their traditional homeland. We offer our respect to their Elders and to all Ohlone people of the past and present. “

Santa Clara University

I found this statement and acknowledgment to be very moving. It was the first time I had experienced a “Land Acknowledgment”. Since that time, I have heard it more frequently at events and gatherings.

What is Land Acknowledgment?

Land Acknowledgement is defined as a formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories.

To perform a Land Acknowledgment, first, find out the history of the land you’re on.

• What are the name and correct pronunciation of their tribe and their language for whose land you are occupying?
• Who are historical figures within the tribe that you can learn more about?

In our town, Chico, CA, we acknowledge the land of the Mechoopda tribe.

A land acknowledgment is just one way we can celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

As of today, 14 States and 130 cities celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Keep reading to find out other ways to recognize this important day.

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian has compiled wonderful ideas on taking a moment to celebrate the lives and traditions of our lands’ first inhabitants.

Ideas for Indigenous Peoples’ Day Recognition

1. Plant something that is native to your area. Native plants provide habitat and food for animals and are the cornerstone of a healthy environment. For example, the pawpaw tree (a native tree widely distributed in most of the United States and common east of the Mississippi) is the only host species for the caterpillars of the zebra swallowtail butterfly.
   
   What plants are native to your area? Find out about native plants and species in your area by visiting the U.S. Forest Service website Celebrating Wildflowers.
   


2. Learn more by visiting Native Knowledge 360°, and advocate for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Native Knowledge 360° is Smithsonian’s National Education Initiative, working to transform teaching and learning about American Indians. One practice we recommend is to acknowledge the lands you live on and name the Indigenous people originally from there. The museum can help with things to consider when thinking about Land Acknowledgements.
   
   
3. Find out what political and social efforts are being led by Indigenous people in your area. Ask how can you support and elevate visibility for those efforts?
   
   
4. Support local Indigenous artists in your area.

Read more about this exciting and important topic on the Smithsonian Website.

Thank you for being a part of the diabetes community.

Coach Beverly and Bryanna

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We are off to College!

Good morning everyone, Beverly won’t be at work today. She will be taking the next step in moving her son toward independence.

In 2002, Beverly brought her firstborn into the world.

Now she is bringing him to college.

After surviving the first 18 years of motherhood (barely), Coach Beverly is ready to kick (gently) her oldest little fledgling, Robert, out of her nest and into the much bigger nest of the collegiate world.

Robert shows all the signs of readiness to leave his home of origin behind and move to the dorms to start college at SMU (Go Mustangs) in Texas.

Robert’s signs of readiness to move out and move on include:

• Eye rolling when parents speak
• Short grunts when answering questions
• Putting in his earbuds when we are reminding him of his chore list
• Frequently says, “I can’t wait to move out”.

These are all signs that we have succeeded at our job as parents. Now with a mixture of joy and a twinge of longing, I will deliver him to the next stage of his journey.

Our prayers are with him. We will keep you posted!

Bryanna is taking this week off to celebrate her birthday. Yay… Happy Birthday!

This well earned vacation comes after an intensive seven months as our Director of Operations and Customer Happiness through many unexpected events (pandemic) and upheavals (working remotely). In spite of all of this, Bryanna has kept our company not only moving forward, but has managed to make significant improvements along the way.

In celebration of Bryanna, here are just a few highlights of what she brings to our company:

Bryanna’s position is complicated with lots of moving parts. First of all, she oversees and updates all five of our websites and is constantly making improvements and adjustments. She views our websites through her customer service lens, “Can our customers find what they need and are they having a great experience along the way?”

In addition, she manages our marketing and information sharing campaigns including our blogs, social media posts, newsletter, Facebook and announcements. She has dramatically improved the operations of our Online University and CDCES Coach app, with plans for making them even better.

She keeps lots of moving parts working smoothly with grace and great organizational skills!

She makes sure our Quickbooks banking operations are accurate and up-to-date. Bryanna provides invaluable training and coaching for my two sons, who report to her. And, in between all of that she answers customer chats, emails and phone calls.

Bryanna is completely invested in the success of our customers and our company. She embodies the mission of our company and believes that we can improve diabetes care through education, advocacy, and curiosity.

In addition to being incredibly bright, hard working and organized, she is an honest and kind communicator, plus a great listener.

I interviewed Bryanna on January 15th and wanted to hire her on the spot. After I contacted her references, I knew in my heart and head, she was the absolute best person for the job.

Here is an excerpt from her cover letter when she applied for this position in January 2020 that says it all!

It’s important to me to work with an organization that I believe in. I am inspired by Diabetes Education Services goals of accessible education for a disease that affects many people in our society. I hope that by bridging the gaps in education about prediabetes and diabetes, health care professionals can better empower people who are at risk or currently living with diabetes. ~ Bryanna

Thank you Bryanna. We are overjoyed to celebrate you!

Pope Francis refers to nurses as “Experts in humanity.”

As a very sick patient in his 20s, Pope Francis, has personally experienced the importance of nurses. “You are there all day and you see what happens to the patient. Thank you for that!” he continued, “many lives, so many lives are saved thanks to you!”

He emphasized the importance of the nursing profession and their unique relationships with all members of the healthcare team – patients, families, and colleagues. Pope Francis stated that nurses are at “the crossroads” of all these relationships. 

The Pope described the sensitivity nurses acquire from “being in contact with patients all day,” and acknowledged the healing power of listening and touch. Calling touch an important factor for demonstrating respect for the dignity of the person. 

Nurses provide care despite the patient’s societal status. The Pope described the nurse’s care as particularly important in situations that may often leave weaker people on the margin.

Furthermore, Pope Francis acknowledged the “truly irreplaceable” role nurses play in the lives of their patients. “Like no other, the nurse has a direct and continuous relationship with patients, takes care of them every day, listens to their needs and comes into contact with their very body, that he tends to,” stated Pope Francis. 

The Pope says nurses are, “promoters of life and dignity”

7 Ways you Can Thank a Nurse:

1. Send a note letting them know the ways you appreciate them.
2. Send them lunch – GrubHub is now offering contact-free deliveries (double-check with the hospital/clinic that they are accepting outside food).
3. Share a story on social media about how a nurse’s care touched your life.
4. Let a supervisor know how much they contribute to improving the health of your community.
5. Donate to the ANA’s Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses.
6. Organize childcare for nurses you know as these nursing students did in Wisconsin.
7. When you do your shopping, offer to pick up and drop off groceries and other items.

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National Nurses Week is celebrated annually, starting with National Nurses Day on May 6th (this Wednesday), through Florence Nightingale’s, the founder of modern nursing, birthday, on May 12th!

I am so proud to call myself a nurse and be a part of this dedicated, hard-working, self-sacrificing and healing profession for over 25 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed and cried along with our nursing colleagues as they have risked their lives to provide care to those impacted by the virus.

Thank you nurses for your careful listening, compassionate care and for providing reassurance and love to those who need it most.

Coach Beverly, RN for 25+ years

Though this year Pope Francis, the ANA, and others are recognizing 2020 as the year of nurses.

We want to highlight all of their hard work and bravery during this time. We simply couldn’t do this without them.

“Let us pray for them all that they may do their precious work in the best possible way,” said Pope Francis earlier this year of nurses and midwives.

The American Nurses Association has put together a page dedicated to the Year of the Nurse.

This page has a place to support nurses on the front-lines of COVID-19, space for nurses to share their stories, inspiring videos and podcasts, and more.

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January 25th marks the first day of Chinese New Year, and 2020 is the year of the rat: the first of the zodiac animals. The Rat is meant to represent diligence and thriftiness. Diabetes Education Services wishes everyone happiness and prosperity in this new year!

Join us for our free BC-ADM webinar on January 30 @ 11:30 a.m. PST to benefit from free practice questions and test taking strategies:

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