CDC Designs ‘Your Diabetes Compass’ for Black Women

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed Your Diabetes Compass, a pioneering tool tailored specifically for Black women with type 2 diabetes.

Compass tool shows 1 in 4 Black women over 55 suffer from chronic disease goals to offer invaluable informationresources and support to make it easier to overcome the challenges of managing type 2 diabetes. Recognizing the disproportionately high rate of type 2 diabetes amongst Black women and their low participation in individualized support services, the national public health agency designed an internet site with about their unique needs.

Your Diabetes Compass encourages Black women to create personalized resource suggestion guides based on a fast self-assessment. They also can use this tool to find out about a spread of topics related to diabetes support.

Diabetes monitoring

“While not everything is in your control, monitoring can help you better manage your diabetes,” the CDC states. Under this topic, Black women can access tools and data to trace their blood sugar, HbA1c, eating habits, blood pressure and cholesterol. Additionally, the Diabetes Monitoring website offers continuous glucose monitors (CGM) and other resources specializing in stress levels and overcoming challenges. You can download your blood sugar log directly from the web site.

Reducing the danger of complications

“Living with diabetes can be stressful, especially because it can increase the risk of other health problems such as heart disease, vision loss and kidney disease,” the agency states.

On Reducing Your Risk of Complications, Black women with diabetes can take several steps to avoid other health complications and stay healthy. Resources include information on health and wellness, regular check-ups, foot and eye care, blood sugar levels, vaccinations, talking about feelings and practicing healthy habits. The CDC has developed a Healthy Checklist to assist keep track of visits and check-ins.

Creative food and cooking

The Compass tool provides details about what to eat and what to limit if you might have diabetes. According to the CDC, “While what you eat has a major impact on managing diabetes, it doesn’t mean the end of delicious and satisfying food.” The Creative Eating & Cooking website provides recommendations on preparing healthy meals, covering dietary topics akin to carbohydrates, proteins and fats. The site includes recommendations for meals, dietary goals and portion sizes. Additional suggestions apply to grocery shopping and eating while traveling.

Increasing physical activity

The CDC reminds Black women with diabetes that regular physical activity is a key a part of controlling their blood sugar levels. The site is devoted to creating changes to your every day routine to extend physical activity to feel healthier and energized. The information explains what it means to be physically energetic and what its advantages are. Because the CDC emphasizes starting exercise safely, it also offers advice on learn how to make fitness activities fun and cozy.

The website motivates and encourages consistency, even within the smallest changes. Women can find hair care products and workouts on the Increasing Physical Activity page.

Obtaining quality care

A robust diabetes team needs to be respectful and open with information and communication. The CDC designed this site to make sure Black women have access to high-quality care. By asking a series of questions, Black women can access information and resources to attach with primary care providers and other diabetes specialists essential to their journey. Provides links to attach with Black physicians and culturally aware medical professionals. The agency has also expanded resources to assist people effectively prepare for medical appointments.

Finding the correct supplier

On this site, Black women can evaluate their current healthcare providers and take motion to seek out healthcare providers which can be right for their specific needs. The site guides visitors through insurance recommendations and inquiries to ask during medical visits. Steps are provided to arrange before meeting along with your doctor. Online search tools, akin to the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) or the American Diabetes Association, can make it easier to find local educational programs.

Black women haven’t got to take care of diabetes alone, using the CDC’s social support website, which states, “the sense of community an individual has is top-of-the-line ways to predict how well they’ll deal with diabetes because the assistance of family, friends and other individuals who can reduce health risks.” Individuals can find support in a wide range of ways on this website. Formatted as a module, Black women can navigate the knowledge, discover a peer support group, and connect with communities of individuals fighting chronic illness. Information reaches family and friends who wish to learn learn how to be more helpful.

Living with diabetes

Learn in regards to the common mental health effects related to stress and diabetes, akin to anxiety, depression and diabetes burnout. The chart allows individuals to make use of this information to discover and understand stress-related symptoms. Added self-care tricks to make it easier to manage stress and reduce your risk of disease. Individuals can explore a wide range of topics akin to body, mind, spirit and more as they practice self-care as a part of their diabetes management plan.

Through the Your Diabetes Compass website, Black women gain access to Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services, connecting them with trained professionals who can provide guidance, careful listening, and ongoing support of their every day self-care. According to the agency, research shows that diabetes education helps lower blood sugar, blood pressure and levels of cholesterol, improving overall well-being and reducing the likelihood of diabetes-related complications.

Additionally, the CDC YouTube channel offers plenty of reviews of the Your Diabetes Compass tool for Black women with diabetes.

This initiative builds on CDC’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness and educate the general public about pre-diabetes. In 2016, they partnered with the Ad Council, the American Diabetes Association and the American Medical Association to release the “Do I Have Prediabetes?” campaign. The campaign’s messages are strategically designed to succeed in all American adults ages 40 to 65, specializing in communities most impacted by chronic disease.