A National Diabetes Month Story
 
Olga Aguirre has been in good health for most of her life. Because of her family’s history with diabetes, her doctor recommended that she join CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) lifestyle change program. Participating in the program gave Olga not only the tools to take care of her health, but also a sense of belonging.
 
“I was a sales manager at a store and was used to talking to people all the time. Then my husband fell ill, and I stopped working to take care of him. This caused me some anxiety and affected my eating habits,” says Olga. “Being able to join a group like this has been very nice. These are people I can relate to – the coaches and participants are very respectful of other opinions. In this type of class, you learn from each other, and that makes it interesting.”
 
Participating in the program helped Olga prevent type 2 diabetes, which runs in her family. Olga’s grandmother  had severe complications from diabetes, and as a result lost both her feet. This made a big impact in Olga’s life.
 
“I was very close to my grandmother, and I always saw her struggle to take care of her health,” Olga says. “This program taught me how to read food labels and count calories. I also learned about the importance of physical activity. I try to walk at least 30 minutes every day. I also sweep my porch and help my husband pick up leaves. I always have the radio on, and I dance while I do house chores. Colombian music gets me going.”
 
Even after finishing the program, Olga has kept in touch with her lifestyle coaches. She says she sometimes sends them photos of the dishes she has prepared and the way she sets her dinner table.
 
“I show them photos of my coconut water and nopales (prickly pear). I also send photos to my daughters-in-law to teach them how to prepare healthy dishes for their families,” she says.
 
Olga’s breakfast might be an oatmeal shake with bananas, strawberries, almonds, or blueberries. For lunch, she frequently cooks an omelet with green peppers, mushrooms, cheese, and sometimes ham. For dinner, Olga and her husband have chicken or fish. In fact, they love fish!
 
“Sometimes in the afternoon if we are hungry, we have sardines, a boiled egg, or a veggie like a baked potato or a chayote (squash). Other times we have salads and I add olive oil,” she says.
 
To succeed in the program, Olga encourages participants to trust themselves and follow the program’s directions.
 
“You must have willpower to take your medicines and stay healthy. Also try to avoid stress, as it does have a big impact on your health.”
 
This November for National Diabetes Month, Olga has something she wants everyone at risk for type 2 diabetes to know: “If you join the lifestyle change program, make sure you stick to the plan and follow what you learn in class and your doctor’s instructions. It is important to follow the booklets. Each chapter is a lesson.”
 
You can be like Olga and reduce your risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Learn more about the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program here.

What if the saying “Happy wife, happy life” could change your life forever? That’s what happened to Jack Aponte; thanks to the help of his wife, Joyce, he reduced his risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

It all started at a truck show. Jack, a former long-haul trucker and current radio host and personality, partnered with the Healthy Trucking Association of America (HTAA) to bring health and wellness messages to the trucking community. Jack –or “Kaptain Jack,” as his fans know him –was in charge of drawing a crowd with lively music and his connections to country music stars. Bill Gordon, a representative from HTAA, was in charge of talking to truckers about type 2 diabetes prevention. Bill’s goal was to get truckers to take a prediabetes risk test to find out if they were at risk for type 2 diabetes. Together, Jack and Bill worked a booth at 26 truck stops around the country.

"We were at the Mid-American Truck Show in Louisville,” says Joyce, who tagged along on the truck stop tour. “Some of the truckers walking by stopped to take the prediabetes risk test. Some said they’d come back and do it later, and some of them were with their wives who encouraged them to do it. So I said to Jack, ‘Why don’t you do it?’” At first Jack resisted. “He said, ‘I’m fine.’ But I told him to go ahead and give it a shot. What’s there to lose? It’s just a minute. What can happen?”

Diabetes is not something that Joyce takes lightly. She’s still devastated by the loss of her twin sister, Marilyn, who passed away from complications of type 1 diabetes. Joyce and Jack both have a family history of type 2 diabetes as well.

“I was always worried about the future,” Joyce says. “A diabetes diagnosis would affect both of us in every way. It’s everything. I wanted him to do it not just for him, but for us.”

Joyce continues, “We looked at each other ,and Jack said, ‘Do you want me to do it?’ I told him ‘Yes!’ So he said, ‘Oh alright.’”

I’m a firm believer in happy wife, happy life,” Jack says with a laugh.

Jack took the prediabetes risk test and found out he was at risk for type 2 diabetes. He knew that he was eligible for CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) lifestyle change program, which would show him how to eat healthier, increase physical activity, and manage stress to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. After talking with Joyce, he decided to sign up.

“At first I grumbled a little bit,” says Jack. “But once you start the program and get into a rhythm, things turn around. It changes everything. Not just for the time when you’re a part of it, but for the rest of your life. I’ve been off the program for a year. Now I live my life differently.”

Jack’s eating habits were one of the biggest changes he made while participating in the lifestyle change program. Growing up, Jack’s family owned a restaurant; he loves to cook and has a strong appreciation for Italian-American food like pasta, pizza, and “beautiful Italian bread.” The program taught Jack that he doesn’t have to give those things up. By using moderation, portion control, and learning how to incorporate healthy ingredients into family favorites –like veal parmesan –he can celebrate his Italian-American culture while sticking to his health goals. Even Joyce has noticed the difference in Jack’s food choices.

“If he might have had 6 slices of pizza before, now he’ll have 3,” she says proudly.

“I really enjoy cooking, and I love seeing Joyce enjoy the meals I make for her,” he says. “But I’m using healthier ingredients now. I’m not a vegetable eater, and before I wouldn’t eat them at all. Now, I’ll eat them but only if I cook them the way I want. Take string beans, for example. If you combine them with crushed tomatoes, then you get string bean marinara.”

Says Joyce, “That never would have happened before the program!”

Through it all, Joyce, of course, is right there beside Jack in support.

“We’ve been married 49 years,” she says. “We’re doing this together. I’m not going to order a pizza while Jack makes broiled fish. We talk about it together. We’re going to make it together.”

This November for National Diabetes Month, Jack has something he wants everyone at risk for type 2 diabetes to know: “Take the step,” he says. “You won’t regret it. There’s no downside. I promise you, you’re going to feel much, much better. Your life will change in a way that you always hoped it would change. So many people wish they could make a change. It will help you make adjustments that will last a lifetime.”

​Joyce has something to say too: “If someone said you had an opportunity to prevent cancer, you would do it. This is a gift. I know the effects of having diabetes because I lost my twin sister to it. If you’re at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, you can take that control back.”

You can be like Jack and reduce your risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Learn more about the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program here.

​From the cab of his 18-wheeler, long-haul truck driver Glenn Keller uses his voice to motivate people to improve their lives. Glenn is not only a truck driver – he’s a certified motivational speaker who helps people set and achieve goals to be the best version of themselves. He motivates people through videos and podcasts that he records from his truck, which he calls the “Empowerment Express,” as well as at his church and on Facebook. And while Glenn can tell you all about the 7 steps for setting goals, he is the first to admit that he didn’t always focus on setting goals for himself, especially when it came to his health. One day, Glenn’s doctor told him that he was morbidly obese.
 
“It added insult to injury,” says Glenn. “I already knew it, and I knew how it was affecting me.”
 
Still, Glenn didn’t make any changes right away. “I was in a lackadaisical place where I knew I needed to do something, and I kept putting it off. I couldn’t see anything that would motivate me to change.”
 
Things might have stayed that way if not for the Healthy Trucking Association of America (HTAA), a group that reached out to Glenn and told him about CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) lifestyle change program, which would teach him healthy habits to reduce his risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The representative from HTAA told Glenn that he’d be eligible for the program if he took a 1-minute prediabetes risk test and came back with a high-risk score, which he did. Hearing about the program was enough to spark Glenn’s motivation to get healthy.
 
“I told myself I needed to pull my life together,” says Glenn. “I said to myself, it doesn’t make any sense for you to be obese, let alone morbidly obese. I told myself that I can do better, that I have done better.”
 
So Glenn signed up for the program. Because his work as a trucker meant he was usually on the road, he was able to participate through an app on his phone. He tracked his meals and physical activity and had access to a lifestyle coach when he had questions.
 
“It’s a pretty amazing program from the standpoint of making us accountable for what we were doing,” says Glenn. “You had to put in your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and any physical activity you did that day. You had to weigh yourself, and you couldn’t fudge on that because the scale sent your weight directly to the app. Without that accountability, you wouldn’t feel anything if you ate healthy or unhealthily. With the program, I had a really good feeling when I had a good breakfast, good lunch, and good dinner.”
 
Participating in the program wasn’t always easy – when Glenn first started, he wasn’t in the best shape and wondered if he’d be able to stick with it. But he kept going and eventually became motivated by his own success after losing 35 pounds. Now he’s gotten his wife, Jennifer, involved in the program, and the two are supporting each other in making healthy choices. He has a goal to lose 45 more pounds.
 
Being a part of the program has also made Glenn think differently about setting health goals, and he uses that insight when he’s motivating others.
 
“Setting goals about a diet has a negative connotation,” says Glenn. “The goal is not just to lose weight. The goal is to eat properly. The goal is to set aside time for exercise. If I set those goals, the weight loss will come. I don’t need to focus on it. The reward is better health.”
 
Glenn is grateful that the program gave him the chance to reduce his risk for developing type 2 diabetes, as he’s seen how the disease can affect people. Glenn’s first cousin – who was also a truck driver and who he looked up to as a child – had diabetes. Glenn says the disease “got away from him.”
 
“He went from being out on the open road for most of his life to being a double amputee in a wheelchair,” says Glenn. “There are a lot of people who don’t really know the true impact of having diabetes and what could happen.”
 
Luckily, Glenn’s outlook on the future is a positive one. He turned 60 earlier this year and has big plans for how he wants to spend his time in retirement. 
 
“If I do everything I’m supposed to do to take care of myself,” says Glenn, “then when I retire it allows Jennifer and me to keep living our life. I haven’t limited myself by allowing type 2 diabetes to take control of me.”
 
This November for National Diabetes Month, you can be like Glenn. Set goals for better health to reduce your risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Learn more about the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program here.

​​Since 1995, the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) has celebrated National Health Education Week (NHEW), (initially in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services), during the third week of October.

NHEW is focused on increasing national awareness on major public health issues and promoting a better understanding of the role of health education.

​This year NHEW is celebrated from October 19th to October 23rd. SOPHE has many interesting resources and FREE webinars to share:

 Tuesday, October 20 | Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?

• Activity: Webinar – Emergency Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Stories from the Field | 2pm EDT

Wednesday, October 21 | Mental Health & Mindfulness

• Activity: Webinar – Supporting Employee Mental Health and Well-being during COVID-19 |  2pm EDT

Thursday, October 22 | Health Literacy: Words Matter

• Activity: Webinar – Health Literacy: Words Matter | 2pm EDT

Friday, October 23 | Career Settings for a Health Education/Promotion Specialist

• Activity: Webinar – A Snapshot of Health Education and Promotion Career Settings | 2pm EDT

​NCFH offers a variety of Educational Resources in English and Spanish, focused on health topics related to general and agricultural worker population that can help address any need for information.

​According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, one in five adults experience mental illness each year. Taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your body. In honor of Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct. 4-10) and National Depression and Mental Health Screening month in October, we wanted to share some important resources related to mental health that contain valuable information, tools, and resources that you can share with your patient populations, colleagues, family, friends, etc.

​NCFH also has COVID Resources for Mental Health specific to the agricultural worker population available. We encourage you to utilize these resources to educate and inform others about mental illness and the importance of taking care of one’s mental health.

"Sometimes we get so used to our traditions, it becomes hard for us to change. But we need to live a healthier life,” says Elvia Alcala. National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 - October 15, is a great time to start!
 
As a lifestyle coach with the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) lifestyle change program, Elvia helps her Hispanic/Latino community understand that they don’t need to abandon their traditions when celebrating their Hispanic heritage in order to achieve or maintain health goals. She shows people with prediabetes how to make healthy food and activity choices to lower their risk for type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to other health conditions such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. Hispanics/Latinos are more likely than other groups to have prediabetes, which is when a person’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
 
The good news is that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by making lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier and being more physically active. When it comes to balancing family traditions with these changes, there are many options! For example, modify an existing tradition by preparing your family’s favorite meal in a healthier way, like using the tips and recipes in the Tasty Recipes for People with Diabetes and Their Families booklet. Or start a brand-new tradition, like having a dance party after dinner to get up and get moving as a family.
 
“It’s important that we all understand why these changes are needed, which is for prevention,” explains Elvia. “We don’t want to end up with type 2 diabetes.”
 
Making healthy food choices, being more active, and supporting family members with prediabetes to lose a few pounds are all ways you can start a new family tradition for better health – and show the next generation that type 2 diabetes doesn’t have to be their future.
 
During this National Hispanic Heritage Month, if you think you may have prediabetes or may be at risk for type 2 diabetes, talk to your doctor or learn more about a lifestyle change program, like the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). The National DPP helps people with prediabetes change their lifestyle to improve their health. Participants work with one of our trained lifestyle coaches and share experiences with others who have the same goals and challenges. Many who have participated in the program say they have more energy, less stress, and better checkups. Signing up with your family can help you create a new, healthier family tradition!

October 1, 2020 - The latest issue of NCFH News is now available! 

• NCFH News! 2021 Virtual Forum for Migrant & Community Health, Limited Time Offer for PPE, Upcoming Webinars, New Learning Collaborative Page + More!

​Stay informed of our events, products and resources, as well as news from the migrant health center community.  Sign up to have NCFH news delivered to your inbox every month.

​Learn more about this special population that is so essential to our food system, and the Migrant Health Program that provides funds to Community and Migrant Health Centers across the country to care for Agricultural (Ag) workers and their families.

• Presenters will provide an overview of the Migrant Health Program, as well as information about Ag worker demographics and culture, and the unique challenges and barriers that impact health care access for Migratory and Seasonal Agricultural Workers and their families.

 
Learning Objectives:

• Understand how a Migrant Health Program functions and is funded in C/MHCs across the country
• Describe services provided by Migrant Health Program to the Ag worker population
• Identify agricultural worker demographics, discuss how the demographics and culture of the population impact health care access
• Identify unique challenges and barriers faced by this population

In addition to being a required reporting element for health center grantees in their UDS, accurate identification and classification of the Ag worker population is a critical step to success in increasing access to quality health care for this special population. 

• Presenters will provide an overview of the federal definition of agriculture, including qualifying industries, the classification of Ag workers, and guidance from the UDS manual for accurate reporting. Participants will learn about available tools and resources to assist health center staff in implementing effective processes and procedures for accurate classification and reporting Ag worker status of their patients in UDS.  Participants will also have an opportunity to submit questions prior to the webinar to ensure their most common challenges in the verification process are addressed. 

 
Learning Objectives:

• Describe the relationship between classification, Uniform Data system reports, and health center funding
• Identify industries and tasks that meet the definition of agriculture and should be considered when classifying an agricultural worker in a Migrant Health Program
• Distinguish the different classification types for Ag workers
• Utilize acquired knowledge to correctly classify and report Agricultural worker patients

 
Questions? Contact our IAC Coordinator 

​This September during National Suicide Prevention Month, help us spread the facts about suicide and mental health. By educating ourselves and others using good resources, we can help save lives and break down the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health.