What is Diabetes

Diabetes is a health condition that affects how the body turns food into energy. Most foods are broken down into glucose that gets released into our bloodstream and absorbed into our cells. The pancreas, a major organ in the body, plays a key part in diabetes because it releases insulin when blood sugar increases. When cells in the body are unable to properly absorb glucose, due to inadequate insulin production or a resistance of cells to the action of insulin, or both, then high blood glucose levels occur.

Read the full Diabetes Public Health Brief HERE.

Maryland Diabetes Action Plan

The Maryland Department of Health created a Diabetes Action Plan to reduce the burden of diabetes in Maryland. The plan includes four main action strategies to support people across the continuum of diabetes:

1. People who are at a healthy weight, to prevent the onset of overweight and obesity.
2. People who are overweight and obese, to achieve a healthy weight.
3. People with prediabetes and gestational diabetes, to participate in prevention programs to halt disease progression.
4. People with diabetes, to get the care they need to control their disease and enjoy optimum health.

You can read the full plan HERE.

Harford County Local Health Improvement Coalition Diabetes Strategy

Based on the Maryland Diabetes Action Plan, the Harford County Local Health Improvement Coalition discussed a plan of action to address diabetes in the county. There are four main elements of this strategy:

1. Food environment
2. Mass communication
3. Exercise
4. Pre-diabetes program

Diabetes Resources in Your Community

Take the Prediabetes Risk Assessment

Diabetes Prevention/Treatment Classes

University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health offers evidence-based classes at no cost for those that are prediabetic (or at high risk for diabetes) and those that have been diagnosed with diabetes.

• Diabetes Prevention Program – In-person and Virtual
  • 12 months; 20 weekly sessions, 1 hour each session plus 6 monthly sessions, 1 hour each session
  • The new class starts in the Fall of 2022.
• Living Well with Diabetes Self-Management – In-person
  • Tuesdays, June 7-July 12 from 1:00 pm-3:30 pm

Resources for Healthy Living

Free Groceries and Meals

How to Incorporate Exercise into your Day

Parks in Harford County