Diabetes Awareness Month:

Nutrition and Lifestyle for Prevention and Management

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to recognize the impact of diabetes, raise awareness about prevention, and share tools for living healthier lives. While diabetes is common, it is also preventable, manageable, and in many cases, even reversible. Exercise builds strength and endurance, but when paired with good nutrition, it becomes a powerful tool for protecting long-term health.

Understanding Diabetes

Diabetes affects the way the body processes blood sugar, or glucose. After meals, carbohydrates are broken down into glucose (sugar), which enters the bloodstream. Insulin is the hormone that helps move this sugar into cells for energy. With type 2 diabetes, the body does not use insulin effectively, leading to elevated blood sugar over time.

The important message is this: type 2 diabetes is not inevitable. Genetics play a role, but lifestyle choices, particularly around nutrition, exercise, and weight management, are powerful factors in prevention.

Prevention and Early Action

Prevention starts with everyday habits. Balanced meals, regular activity, and stress management all work together to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation. Even small changes, like choosing water instead of sugary drinks or adding a daily walk, can lower risk.

Early action matters. When caught at the stage of prediabetes, blood sugar levels can often return to normal with consistent lifestyle changes. This is why screenings and regular checkups are so valuable.

Management Matters

For those already living with diabetes, lifestyle changes remain central to management. Balanced meals that include protein, healthy fats, vegetables, and smart carbohydrates help stabilize blood sugar and prevent energy crashes. Exercise also plays a critical role, both strength training and aerobic activity improve how the body uses insulin.

A common myth is that diabetes is always progressive and cannot be reversed. In truth, while long-term uncontrolled diabetes can lead to complications, research shows that blood sugar levels can improve dramatically and sometimes normalize when healthy habits are applied consistently. It is not about quick fixes, but about steady, sustainable changes.

Busting the Myth

“Once you have diabetes, it only gets worse.”
This belief keeps many people feeling stuck, but it is not the whole story. Type 2 diabetes can often be slowed, halted, or even reversed, particularly when addressed early. Progress depends on timing, consistency, and overall health, but the message is empowering: change is possible.

The Takeaway

Diabetes Awareness Month is about more than information, it is about action. Diabetes is preventable and manageable, and you have more power over your health than you may realize. By combining regular movement with balanced nutrition, you can protect your blood sugar, strengthen your body, and build resilience for the future.

3 Simple Steps to Try This Month

1. Move daily. Even 20–30 minutes of walking, cycling, or strength training can improve blood sugar control.
   2. Balance your meals. Include protein, healthy fats, vegetables, and a smart carbohydrate choices rather than eating carbs alone.
   3. Get screened if you haven’t already. Talk with your primary care provider about your blood sugar. Early screening makes prevention and management much easier.

Remember, small steps add up and you do not have to do it alone. Seeking support, whether from family, friends, or a professional, can make the journey toward better health easier and more sustainable. Here’s to awareness, action, and healthier days ahead.

– Nicole Davis MS, RD, LDN, IFNCP

Nicole Davis, MS, RD, LDN, IFNCP, the Founder of Akasha Wellness, is a Registered Dietitian specializing in functional nutrition to treat and, when possible, reverse diabetes. She helps clients improve health by addressing root causes through personalized nutrition and lifestyle strategies.