Faith Leaders Toolkit – Diabetes Management and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
As a leader in your faith community, you are in an important position to help people prevent type 2 diabetes and manage all types of diabetes. Your members trust you and understand that you support their well-being. You know how to reach and inspire them. You can motivate them to take steps toward healthful living.
Resources to Help You Help Others
This Faith Leaders Toolkit features tip sheets, webinars, videos, social media messages, and other resources that make it easy for you to:
- Spread the word about type 2 diabetes prevention and diabetes management.
- Organize type 2 diabetes prevention and diabetes management activities in your community.
- Create an environment that supports healthy choices.
Whether you are just starting a diabetes initiative or already have a program in place, the Faith Leaders Toolkit has resources to help you meet the needs of your congregation.
Members of your congregation might not understand their risk for diabetes. They might not know there are steps they can take to lower their risk or, if they have diabetes, to manage it. Help them get all the facts about diabetes and make the changes they need to take control of their health. You can use the resources in this section to raise awareness about type 2 diabetes prevention and diabetes management. It includes resources you can give your members who may be at risk for type 2 diabetes or those who already have diabetes. It also includes resources for family members who may be supporting loved ones with or at-risk for type 2 diabetes.
Resources For People at Risk For Type 2 Diabetes
People who have a blood glucose (blood sugar) level higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes, are said to have prediabetes. People with prediabetes are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Nearly 90 percent of adults who have prediabetes do not know they have it. The good news: people with prediabetes can take steps to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes Risk Test
Share this test with individuals in your congregation to raise awareness about prediabetes and help them find out if they are at risk.
Tip Sheets and Guides
- Diabetes and Prediabetes
- On Your Way to Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
A practical guide for taking small steps that add up to a healthy lifestyle your members can stick with. - Prevent Type 2 Diabetes in Kids
- Prediabetes: Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Resources For People With Diabetes
People with diabetes can learn about the disease in order to better manage it and prevent complications such as heart disease, kidney damage, or blindness. Use these resources to help people with diabetes take better care of themselves.
Tip Sheets and Booklets
- Tips to Help You Stay Healthy with Diabetes
This tip sheet helps people with diabetes learn about important steps they can take to manage their condition. - 4 Steps to Manage Your Diabetes for Life
Follow these four steps to help you manage your diabetes, avoid complications, and live a long, active life. - How to Help a Loved One Cope with Diabetes
Family support can help a person with diabetes manage everyday tasks and deal with changes in care over time. This short guide offers tips that can help.
Digital Resources
Faith communities nationwide are taking advantage of visual and digital media to inform and educate their members. Use videos with small or large groups to spark discussion about prediabetes and preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes. Reach members at risk for diabetes through Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or other social networks your organization maintains.
- Diabetes Infographics
Post these easy-to-understand visuals about diabetes and diabetes prevention on bulletin boards, in rest rooms, and in other areas in your facility that members visit. You can also use them on your website and social media channels. - Infocards
Use infocards on your social media channels to spread the word about diabetes. - DiabetesTV
Our public information campaigns and collections provide key insights on prediabetes, preventing type 2 diabetes, and living well with diabetes. Explore them all and share with friends and family.
Once you have raised awareness of diabetes among your members, take the next important step with education and support activities that teach people skills that can help them make healthier choices. Education activities can include workshops, cooking demonstrations, and physical activity classes.
Program for People at Risk for Diabetes
National Diabetes Prevention Program
The National Diabetes Prevention Program is an evidence-based lifestyle change program for preventing type 2 diabetes in people who have prediabetes. Participants meet with a trained lifestyle coach and a small group of people who are making lifestyle changes to prevent diabetes. Sessions meet in person or online, for about 6 months and then monthly for about 6 months. Many organizations offer the program nationally. Find out how your organization can participate to benefit your members.
One important way you can support people who are taking steps to prevent and manage diabetes is to provide healthy food and beverage options at meetings, celebrations, and other gatherings. When a healthy choice is the easy choice, everyone benefits. The resources in this section will help you plan to offer healthy food options and incorporate physical activity in all your organization’s events to foster a healthier environment.
- Choosing Healthy Foods on Holidays and Special Occasions – Buffet Table Tips for People with Diabetes [PDF – 121KB]
Special events can pose special challenges for a person with diabetes. Give these tips to your members before the next barbecue, picnic, or family reunion to help them make wise food choices. These tips help them understand that they can enjoy a delicious meal, plus feel good. - Healthy Food Service Guidelines
Create a food environment where healthier choices are available to your members at meetings, celebrations, and other events. Healthier options at activities can help your members make healthier choices. - The CDC Guide to Strategies to Increase Physical Activity in the Community [PDF – 1MB]
This guide provides information about strategies to increase physical activity in the community.