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Lesson Plans

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Diabetes at Work resources are available to help you educate people about diabetes and ways to prevent, delay, and manage this disease. A series of lesson plans is available from Diabetes at Work to guide workshops, diabetes support groups, lunch-and-learn sessions, and other workplace or community meetings where people are learning more about diabetes.

These lesson plans can be used by:

  • Workplace wellness coordinators, health coaches.
  • Diabetes and other health educators.
  • Occupational health providers.
  • Primary care providers such as physicians, nurses, physician's assistants, and community health workers.
  • Other health care professionals such as pharmacists, podiatrists, dental health professionals, eye doctors, etc.
  • Human resources staff.

The lesson plans cover a broad variety of diabetes-related topics. Each lesson plan features:

  • Lesson objectives.
  • Script guide.
  • Suggested group activities or exercises.
  • Recommendations for shortening the lesson to a 15- or 20-minute session.
  • PowerPoint slides (also in Spanish for some lesson plans).
  • Handouts (also in Spanish for some lesson plans).

Although the lesson plans focus on diabetes, many can be adapted to discuss high blood pressure, heart disease prevention, weight loss and weight management, physical activity, nutrition, and stress management.

Lesson plan links are found to the left side on this page.  When using a lesson plan for a lunch-and-learn session, for example, be sure to:

  • Reserve space.
  • Secure a speaker.
  • Print out and download session resources.
  • Promote the session to employees.
  • Evaluate success - how many attended, what did they learn, were health behaviors changed.

Aids & Tools

Know More

  1. Access resources and tools to help your company prevent diabetes complications at the National Diabetes Education Program.
  2. The American Association of Diabetes Educators has numerous resources about diabetes.
  3. Additional Lesson plan resources can be found at the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
  4. The Centers for Disease Control also has resources within the Total Worker Health Initiative.
  5. The Workplace Health Promotion has additional kits and resources as well.

Ask More

  1. How do I reach out to local diabetes educators to help deliver these Diabetes at Work lesson plans?
    Answer:
    You can contact the State Health Departments or the American Association of Diabetes Educators to get started. 
  2. I am looking for lesson plans related more to heart issues. Where can I find these?
    Answer:
    A comprehensive group of lesson plans is available here on Diabetes at Work.  Link to the plans from the home page or the links found on the left side of this page.
  3. What are valid expectations for workshop attendance?
    Answer:
    The attendance will depend on your organizations culture of health and how well the workshops are planned and promoted. Encouragement from senior management goes a long way in generating attendance.
  4. Can I take pictures of my workshop in session for the company newsletter?
    Answer:
    Only with the knowledge and consent of  the participants. 

Do More

  1. Plan a series of workshops about diabetes and related conditions for your employees. Links to the lesson plans can be found on the Diabetes at Work home page or on the left side of this page.
  2. Provide feedback to Diabetes at Work through "Contact Us" about the lesson plans and additional topics that you need.
  3. Include a write up and pictures (with participant permission) on the Diabetes at Work Facebook page to inspire others.
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