November is National Diabetes Month, a time to bring understanding, awareness, and attention to diabetes.

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 37.3 million Americans, or 11.3% of the population, had diabetes in 2019. In addition, 96 million Americans age 18 and older have prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.

WebMD published an article on 12 tips to avoid diabetes complications, including the four lifestyle changes below. Try the Wellbeats classes below as you incorporate these healthy habits into your daily life.

Get Enough Sleep

According to WebMD, getting inadequate sleep can increase your appetite and cravings for high-carb foods, which can lead to weight gain and increase your risk for diabetes complications such as heart disease. Aim for seven or eight hours of sleep a night.

In our Eat Better, Sleep Better class, Wellbeats instructor Christina S. breaks down the relationship between nutrition and sleep, explains how much sleep you should be getting, provides tips for improving your sleep, and recommends foods to eat before bedtime.

Be Active

Exercise can help you lower your cardiovascular risks, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure levels. It can also help keep your weight down and may help you cut back on diabetes medication.

Body Check is a cardio class focused on strength and speed. No equipment—no problem! Join Wellbeats instructor Acacia S. as she coaches you through this fun and energizing circuit class.

Manage Stress

When you have diabetes, stress can cause your blood glucose levels to rise, so WebMD advises getting rid of whatever physical or mental stresses you can through relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation.

Need to wind down after a busy day? In our Stretch Away Stress class, Wellbeats instructor Erin P. guides you through a series of stretches to help you slow down and de-stress in just 20 minutes.

Eat Super Foods

WebMD advises that there’s no single diabetes diet but encourages consumption of super foods like berries, sweet potatoes, fish with omega-3 fatty acids, and dark green, leafy vegetables and avoiding saturated fat and trans fats.

In our Nourishing vs. Eating class, Chef Marshall breaks down the key differences between nourishing and eating and why it’s important to understand if you want a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle. He also demonstrates a nourishing, one-pan skillet chicken with vegetables recipe.

Learning about diabetes and how to prevent or delay it is the first step toward living a longer, healthier life. Join Wellbeats in recognizing National Diabetes Month this November!

About Wellbeats, a LifeSpeak company

Wellbeats, a LifeSpeak company is a leading provider of on-demand virtual fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes for use in workplaces of all sizes, health plans, on college or university campuses, multi-family housing, the U.S. military, and fitness and health clubs. Based in St. Louis Park, MN, Wellbeats makes fitness accessible, affordable, and approachable for everyone. More than 1,000 classes and 35+ programs are available to help members stay on track and meet their goals. To learn more, visit www.wellbeats.com or check out a sampling of the company’s fitness classes during a Facebook Live class, and follow Wellbeats on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.