NMDAC’s programs not only provide continuing education on diabetes-related topics, but each meeting also offers the opportunity for mentoring, camaraderie and information sharing among healthcare professionals who are making a difference in the lives of those with diabetes.

DOWNLOAD 2015 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION – or – APPLY ONLINE

Benefits of Joining NMDAC Annual Professional and Para-Professional Membership includes:

• No fee for admission to each NMDAC educational session
• Opportunity to apply for Continuing Education Units at each program (may include CME, CDR, CHES, ACPE)
• Priority on stand-by list when sessions reach capacity
• Opportunity to vote in elections and on NMDAC matters
• Special “NMDAC Member” name tag at each meeting
• Opportunity to further NMDAC’s mission by serving as a board member or on a select committee

Organizational Partner benefits also include:

• Up to five designated members (savings of $125)
• Recognition of organization/company on NMDAC website

Sustaining Partner benefits also include: 

• Two designated members
• Opportunity to have an information table at each meeting
• Recognition of organization/company at each meeting, in event promotional e-mails, and on NMDAC website

Membership and training fees are waived for all state government employees. Membership is for one year and ends December 31, 2015. Membership form and payment is requested by January 31 of each membership year. Membership will not be pro-rated for late enrollments; full payment will be due for partial or mid-year enrollments. A one-time visitor or guest is permitted to attend for a charge of $15, only applicable to non-members. A full membership will be required to attend subsequent meetings/trainings.

NMDAC is the only organization in New Mexico that offers low-cost diabetes-related training for health care professionals statewide on a regular basis. We need the support of our community members and businesses to ensure we can continue to promote health practices that provide quality and accessible diabetes prevention and care in New Mexico.

Our silent auction on Dec. 5 helped raised more than $2,000 to help support our 2015 educational sessions and to further our outreach efforts.

Below are some of the generously donated items.

Hand crafted holiday wreath

A winning bidder

Two rounds of golf at Sandia Golf Club

Matching hand woven afghans

Tickets to Christmas Joy Ballet

Amethyst and turquoise necklace

18-inch liquid silver necklace

Hand carved pen and key chain set

Hand crafted Christmas wreath

Holiday service for 10

Mirror with handcarved wooden framr

Popcorn gift basket by Honey Depot

30-day VIP Pass to Finally Fit

Woven Earrings

National Diabetes Month is recognized each November, while World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14 is an international campaign. Each has the purpose of drawing attention to this important public health issue and keeping diabetes education firmly in the public spotlight.

• More than 29 million Americans – or about 9 percent of the U.S. population – have diabetes, making it the 7th leading cause of death and ranking the nation #3 in the world for diabetes prevalence.
• It also is estimated that one in every three Americans have prediabetes and does not even know they have the disease.
• If left undiagnosed or untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.
• Approximately one in eight adults in New Mexico have diabetes, affecting more than 204,000 people with 26 percent of those not knowing they have it.
• The direct and indirect costs of diabetes in New Mexico exceed $2.1 billion.

This November 14, the New Mexico Diabetes Advisory Council (NMDAC), the American Diabetes Association, the Zia Association of Diabetes Educators (ZADE), the New Mexico Department of Health’s Diabetes Prevention & Control Program (DPCP) along with the National Diabetes Education Program are encouraging people across the state with diabetes to “Be Smart About Your Heart: Control the ABCs of Diabetes.”

Control the ABCs of Diabetes is a critical message because people with diabetes are nearly two times more likely to die from heart disease or stroke than a person without diabetes. The good news is that those with diabetes can lower their chance of having diabetes-related heart problems by managing their Diabetes ABCs:

• A is for the A1C test (A-one-C). This is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar (glucose) level over the past three months.
• B is for Blood pressure.
• C is for Cholesterol.
• S is for stopping smoking.

“Many people with diabetes do not understand that having diabetes puts them at increased risk for having a heart attack or stroke,” said Linda Reineke, RD, LD, CDE, board president of NMDAC and a member of ZADE. “Diabetes educators across New Mexico want people with diabetes to know that managing your ABCs can help prevent diabetes-related heart problems.”

The American Diabetes Association recommends that if you have diabetes, ask your health care team what your A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol numbers are, and what they should be. Your ABC goals will depend on how long you have had diabetes and other health problems.

Resources:

International Facts & Figures

Diabetes and Your Heart 

Diabetes Risk Factors

About Diabetes Education

My Health Advisor

Many people don’t know that having diabetes means there is a greater chance of having heart problems such as a heart attack or stroke. This National Diabetes Month, the National Diabetes Education Program offers resources that helps people with diabetes to Be Smart About Your Heart:  Control the ABCs of Diabetes. 

• Access resources and promotional tools to help get the word out

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL DEPRESSION AWARENESS MONTH

Depression is a debilitating condition for anyone who has it, and as health educators we know it can be especially debilitating for those with diabetes. Research shows that diabetes and depression are linked, and people who have diabetes are twice as likely to have depression compared to the average person.

Symptoms of depression can exacerbate diabetes by causing people to neglect diabetes self-management, such as exercise, eating healthy and following a medication regimen. Treatment of depression can help a person with diabetes manage their diabetes better, so it is important to screen for depression and make the appropriate recommendations for follow-up care.

• Visit the NMDOH Diabetes Prevention and Control Program’s website to access FREE Diabetes and Depression online course with CMEs
• Additional information and resources: National Institute of Mental Health