National Diabetes Awareness Month (November)
www.diabetes.org
There are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, 5.7 million people (or nearly one quarter of those with diabetes) are unaware that they have the disease. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. Learning your child has diabetes can be quite a shock. The American Diabetes Association has more information for parents whose child has just been diagnosed, as well as a special for parents and kids section and the "Planet D" Web site for kids to explore.
Family Volunteer Day (November 17)
www.familyvolunteerday.org
Family Volunteer Day, a program of the Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network, showcases the benefits of families volunteering together. Sponsored by the Walt Disney Company, Family Volunteer day is held annually the Saturday before Thanksgiving and is a perfect way for families to kick off a caring and giving holiday season. For more information, visit www.familyvolunteerday.org.
Great American Smokeout (November 20)
www.cancer.org
November 20 is the 33rd annual Great American Smokeout. The program was launched in 1976 by the American Cancer Society to inspire and encourage smokers to quit for one day. Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in our society. Each year, smoking accounts for an estimated 438,000 premature deaths, including 38,000 deaths among nonsmokers as a result of secondhand smoke. Half of all Americans who continue to smoke will die from smoking-related diseases. One in three adolescents/young adults who are "just experimenting" end up being addicted by the time they are 20 years old. According to the American Cancer Society, almost half of the 45.3 million Americans who smoke have attempted to quit for at least one day in the past year. Quitting smoking is not easy, but it can be done. Accept the Great American Smokeout Challenge.
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