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Sweet Balance: Raising Awareness About Diabetes

By: Boone County

By Jaimie Beister, RN & Diabetic Educator

Diabetes Awareness Month is right around the corner, a time to highlight the impact this condition has on individuals, families, and communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 10 Americans has diabetes, and about 1 in 5 don’t even know it.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it effectively. Insulin is the hormone that helps move sugar from food into your cells for energy. Without it, sugar builds up in the blood, leading to serious health problems such as heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, and vision loss.

There are three main types:

  • Type 1 diabetes – An autoimmune condition where the body produces little or no insulin.
  • Type 2 diabetes – The most common type, where the body doesn’t use insulin properly (insulin resistance).
  • Gestational diabetes – Develops during pregnancy and usually resolves after birth, though it increases the risk of type 2 later in life.

Managing diabetes goes beyond checking blood sugars. It involves healthy eating, regular exercise, medication if needed, and lifestyle changes that support long-term health. At Boone County Health Center, our diabetes education program helps patients gain confidence in meal planning, carb counting, medication use, and other practical skills.

As a Diabetes Educator my role is to help you understand your diagnosis, learn practical management strategies, and build confidence in making healthy choices. Diabetes education sessions are available to provide guidance on meal planning, carb counting, medication use, and lifestyle changes that support long-term health.

To support our community during Diabetes Awareness Month, Boone County Health Center invites you to Sweet Balance: A Diabetes Prevention and Management Event on Thursday, November 6, from 4–6 p.m. at the Cardinal Inn. The event includes presentations, resources, local vendors such as gluten-free baked goods, Dexcom, and Libre, plus complimentary appetizers and wine tasting. This is an Open House style event so guests can come and go as they wish.

If you have questions about diabetes, or if you would like to learn more about our diabetes self-management education sessions, please call me at 402-395-3156. I am here to help you in any way I can and look forward to seeing you at the event!