More than a decade after coining “Treat Yo’ Self Day” in her role as Donna on “Parks & Recreation,” Retta is once again helping establish a new annual observance.
Glucose sensor maker Dexcom and nonprofit Beyond Type 2 have tapped the actor and comedian to kick off National Glucose Awareness Week, the first iteration of which began on Monday and will last through Sunday, Sept. 29. With Retta’s help, the organizations are aiming to improve education around the factors—like diet, exercise and sleep habits—that can impact glucose levels, according to a Monday announcement.
The awareness week arrives not long after Dexcom conducted a survey in which only about 10% of people with prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes said they understand those factors “extremely well.”
A website launched in tandem with the awareness week’s kickoff, with the slogan “Get Glucose Aware,” features facts and figures about glucose and diabetes. It also offers a handful of vertical video clips designed to be shared on social media in which “Glucose Guru” Retta discusses topics like the recommended daily intake of added sugars, glucose-friendly foods and more.
According to Dexcom and Beyond Type 2, the educational initiative is targeting not only people with prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes who may be under-informed about the importance of glucose health but also the high numbers of people who don’t know they have either condition. CDC estimates cited in the release suggest that more than 20% of those with Type 2 diabetes who don’t require insulin and as many as 80% of those with prediabetes are unaware of their condition.
“Through this initiative, we hope to provide people with valuable information that can lead to earlier detection of prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes,” Melanie Batchelor, the nonprofit’s manager of health impact content and community education, said in a statement.
Along with the glucose health educational component, the initiative also includes efforts to increase awareness of the biosensors available to help track real-time changes in glucose levels—and, specifically, Dexcom’s recently launched Stelo sensor. The recent Dexcom survey reportedly showed that nearly half of people with prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes have experienced confusion about ways to effectively manage their health.
The Get Glucose Aware site includes information about the benefits of glucose tracking, and a link to “learn more” directs visitors to the official website for Stelo, which was the first over-the-counter glucose sensor to be cleared by the FDA and is specifically designed for use by people with prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes who don’t use insulin.
Retta, too, lends her support to the Dexcom device. She can be seen wearing the sensor on the back of her arm in the “Glucose Guru” videos.
“Since being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, I’ve needed to learn how different lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise can impact my glucose levels and my overall health,” she said in this week’s announcement. “Since I started using Stelo, Dexcom’s newest glucose biosensor, I’ve improved my glucose awareness. That is why I’m proud to partner with Dexcom and Beyond Type 2 to help others increase their glucose knowledge.”
In addition to the educational and awareness-raising resources on the website, the newly launched Glucose Awareness Week includes some interactive components, too. For one, visitors can enter their email addresses on the site for a chance to win a one-month supply of the 15-day Stelo sensors.
For another, registration is now open for a step challenge that’ll take place between Sept. 30 and Oct. 13, offering the chance to both “boost your glucose health and compete for prizes,” according to the organizations.