We are in the middle of Diabetes Education Week, in conjunction with November Diabetes Month. Heartfelt thanks to each of you for sharing your passion and the numerous contributions you, as a diabetes Educator, make in the lives of your patients, clients, Colleagues, Professional Organizations, and the Community. How are you celebrating & professing your profession? Do you have a poster in your waiting area or office that promotes the value of an Educator?
There has been much discussion via the Office & Clinic Based COI in the past few weeks regarding a desire for a more universal, recognizable symbol that denotes diabetes Education. Many respondents have suggested & already use the" blue circle" of the November 14th World Diabetes Day, led by the International Diabetes Federation (www.idf.org). The IDF is an umbrella organization of over 230 national & international diabetes Associations in 170 countries & territories. AADE blogger, Amy Campbell, RD, CDE, has posted more information regarding the blue circle logo & the IDF initiatives. "This year's message from the IDF promotes "Healthy Living & Diabetes". The key messages are: 1) investing in a healthy breakfast will reduce the global burden of diabetes, & save billions in lost productivity & healthcare costs; 2) ensuring access to an affordable & healthy breakfast is essential to reducing the global burden of diabetes. The logo of World Diabetes Day is a blue circle standing for the 'unity of the diabetes community in response to the diabetes epidemic".
Amy suggests that "sharing the world diabetes day message can add a layer of importance to our education messages. Some activities that you can do to help promote the day:
1. Share the message of world diabetes day through your social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & your website;
2. Organize a healthy breakfast event in your community;
3. Light up a monument blue in your community;
4. Wear a blue circle pin or t-shirt to show your support;
5. Form a human blue circle in your community to make a statement;
6. Consider putting up some signs in your office and promoting the day next week."
On the IDF website, you can download the web graphics & logos that can be used in publicizing the day. One of the COI respondents reports "there is also a mobile app that allows you to take a selfie with the blue circle & post on social media for National Diabetes Month: http://www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday/news/blue-circle-selfie-app-launched ". Another COI Member is going to add a blue streak in her hair! My ideas: how about blue light bulbs at work/office or in your front porch? If you are attending the annual St Louis Kilo Diabetes Symposium (Nov 14th & 15th---see Missouri calendar for details) wear your blue circle pin &/or your AADE pin to encourage a discussion of diabetes & diabetes Education awareness! If you have successfully renewed your CDE credential or if you are a first-time CDE, please let me know: Nancy Trebilcock, BSN, RN, CDE, at nancytcde@hotmail.com--subject line--CDE credential.
Again, congratulations & thank you for all you do!