Learn Your Risk During Diabetes Awareness Month

According to the Centers for Disease Control, diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant). Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the US and may be underreported because it’s often a factor in other causes of death. It can increase your risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and many other serious health problems.   

Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 90-95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.  Besides family history, type 2 risk factors include having high blood pressure, smoking, being over 45 years of age, being overweight, inactivity, and having a history of gestational diabetes. Certain population groups such as African Americans and Hispanics are also at higher risk. Take the 60-second Diabetes test to learn your risk.

For people with prediabetes, early treatment and moderate lifestyle changes may help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Learn more about preventing Type 2 diabetes. Your EAP can also help.  Call 800-252-4555  to schedule one-to-one coaching services for stress management, fitness, relaxation, nutrition, and quitting smoking, or visit the Wellness Center in your online Self-Help Resource Center.

Tips for Caregivers & Those Who Love Them

November is National Family Caregivers Month, honoring those who care for elderly parents or family members with chronic or debilitating conditions. Here are tips for caregivers to avoid burnout, as well as tips for friends and family on ways to offer support. 

For caregivers: Find a medical person, an online network, a friend, or a counselor from your EAP to talk to. • Identify local support resources • Learn how to ask for and accept help • Take time off, even if only a few minutes a day • Recognize signs of burnout and learn how to say no • Find healthy ways to deal with your stress.

For Friends & family: Stay connected – caregivers often feel isolated. • Offer concrete help. Shovel a walk, mow a lawn, offer a ride • Contribute financially, caregiving can be costly Help with direct costs or give gift cards for groceries and other necessities • Listen, care, and be supportive • Avoid second-guessing, back-seat driving and criticism.

Find local senior care services and access Caregiver Resources by logging in to www.theEAP.com and clicking on the Connections/Work-Life tile.

Learn Something New!

Choose from thousands of online E-Learning courses, many of them in short micro-learning bursts you can take at your convenience. We add new topics every month. Log in at www.theEAP.com and click on the comprehensive training library in the “Training Center.”

• NEW! Working in a Hybrid World: 5 Tips to Increase Your Productivity | Course ID: SVL_1021825
  7-minute lesson covering workspace setup, scheduling, going paperless, team building, and more.

• NEW! Diversity Toolkit: Your Bias Is Showing | Course ID: SVL_1028730
  Learn the dangers of biases, prejudices, and stereotypes in the workplace in this 9-minute video. 

• Delivering Stellar Customer Service | Course ID: SVL_102822
  In this 7-minute video, learn how to be seamless, trustworthy, attentive, and resourceful when dealing with customers.

Learn More!

How to Scan a QR Code

1. Open the camera app.
2. Select the rear-facing camera in Photo mode.
3. Center the QR code you want to scan on the screen
     and hold your phone steady for a couple of seconds.
4. Tap the notification that pops up to open the link.
     (You will need to be connected to the internet to do this.)