As the holidays approach, it’s a good time to review the importance of positive healthy behaviors, especially if you’re living with diabetes.

Ohio State University Extension’s diabetes team is here to help. During National Diabetes Awareness in November, the team is offering complimentary 30-minute webinars live online.

Each session is from noon to 12:30 p.m. These are the topics:

•Nov. 3 – Healthy Holiday Foods

•Nov. 10 – Intuitive Eating

•Nov. 17 – Foot Health and Diabetes

•Nov. 24 – Sleep and Diabetes

To register and get the link for the webinars, visit go.osu.edu/diabetesseries

Diabetes is a condition in which the body’s blood glucose (blood sugar) levels are higher than normal, or hyperglycemia. This occurs when the body is unable to use or store blood glucose for energy.

November is a critical time for awareness and education about diabetes management, particularly focusing on diet and healthy eating habits. The month highlights the importance of balanced nutrition, meal planning, carbohydrate counting and choosing high-fiber foods like leafy greens, whole grains, apples, berries and legumes to help individuals manage blood sugar levels effectively.

The holiday season, especially Thanksgiving, falls during November, making mindful eating and planning essential for those with diabetes.

Tips for managing diabetes during the holidays include:

• Avoid skipping meals: This can lead to overeating later.

• Stay consistent: Try to eat, exercise and take medications around your usual times to maintain routine.

• Practice moderation: Enjoy your favorite foods in smaller portions and balance them with healthier options.

• Be mindful: Use a small plate and avoid over-serving yourself at buffets or family-style meals.

• Make it, take it: Share diabetes-friendly foods at gatherings.

National Diabetes Awareness Month also is a chance to highlight the importance of early detection of diabetes, which can help prevent series health complications, including heart, kidney and eye disease.

Diabetes is often 'silent' without showing any symptoms at first. Common symptoms are:

•Urinating often

•Feeling very thirsty

•Feeling very hungry – even though you are eating

•Extreme fatigue

•Blurry vision

•Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal

•Weight loss – even though you are eating more (type 1)

•Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet (type 2)

The good news is that diabetes can be managed and is often preventable. By adopting a healthy lifestyle and treating all related conditions, most people with diabetes can postpone these problems or avoid them all together. Our Wayne County Family and Consumer Sciences program in partnership with Wooster Community Hospital shares this information with our Dining with Diabetes participants.

Dining With Diabetes is a series of four classes that offers vital information to help you manage your diabetes, food preparation tips and physical activity instructions. We will offer another DWD series at the hospital sometime in the spring of 2026.

Attending programs like webinars and the DWD series can provide support, new friends and new recipes to try to reinforce the importance of taking care of your diabetes. It’s important to stay diligent with your diabetes management.

Joining the webinar series will allow you to stay informed in the comfort of your home.

Laurie Sidle is an Ohio State University Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H program assistant and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or sidle.31@osu.edu
This article was previously published in The Daily Record.