The Southeast Diabetes Faith Initiative

25/07/2025

👁️ July is Healthy Vision Month! 🧿
Did you know that African Americans are at higher risk for serious eye conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy?

Early detection can save your sight! This month, take steps to protect your vision:

✅ Schedule a comprehensive eye exam
🥦 Eat eye-friendly foods like leafy greens and fish rich in omega-3s
🩺 Manage chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure
🕶️ Wear UV-protective sunglasses when outdoors
💻 Give your eyes regular breaks from screens

Your vision is a vital part of your health and quality of life. Let’s make it a priority—this month and every month. 💙

24/07/2025

🌞 July is Health Awareness Month! 🩺
As we soak up the summer sun, let’s also take time to focus on our well-being. July highlights several important health topics:

🔹 UV Safety Month – Protect your skin and eyes from harmful rays. Don’t forget your sunscreen and sunglasses! 😎
🔹 Minority Mental Health Awareness Month – Let’s break the stigma and promote mental health equity for all communities. 💚
🔹 Healthy Vision Month – Keep your eyes in check with regular exams and good screen habits. 👁️
🔹 Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month – Learn more and support youth living with chronic joint pain. 💪

Your health matters every month, but July is a great time to take action. Stay informed, stay protected, and stay well! ☀️

23/07/2025

🌿 9 Crops You Can Grow in Buckets All Year Round! 🪴🥕
🍅 1. Tomatoes
A container gardening favorite! Use a 5-gallon bucket, support with a stake or cage, and enjoy juicy harvests season after season.
🧅 2. Onions
Perfect for buckets! Grow green onions, red onions, or bulb onions. They love well-drained soil and a sunny spot.
🥔 3. Potatoes
Yes—you can grow a full harvest of spuds in a bucket! Start with seed potatoes and keep adding soil as they grow.
🥬 4. Kale
This supergreen thrives in containers and tolerates both heat and cold. Snip the leaves and it keeps giving!
🥒 5. Cucumbers
Great for vertical growth! Use a trellis and give them room to climb for a steady supply of fresh cukes.
🧄 6. Garlic
Plant in fall or early spring—garlic grows surprisingly well in buckets and gives you both bulbs and greens.
🌶️ 7. Peppers
Sweet or hot, peppers love container life. Give them full sun, regular watering, and a bit of fertilizer and watch them thrive.
🥕 8. Carrots
Loose, deep soil in a bucket makes carrots happy! Choose shorter varieties for best container results.
🌱 9. Spinach
Grow nutrient-rich spinach year-round in buckets! It thrives in cooler weather and partial sun.
💡 Container Garden Tips:
Use buckets with drainage holes
Choose quality potting mix
Fertilize monthly
Water consistently

23/07/2025

Early Bird Registration is NOW OPEN - Only $25! Don’t miss the 12th Annual Healthy Churches 2030 Virtual Conference: The Future of Our Health. From now through September 6, reserve your virtual seat for just $25 and join a powerful 3-day experience that equips congregations, caregivers, and communities to lead the way in health equity.

- Learn how to reduce health disparities
- Explore chronic disease prevention & treatment innovations
- Build wellness programs in your church & community

November 17–19 | 100% Virtual | Share with your faith family!
Register now at https://www.hc2030.org

Plus - we're now accepting Best Practice Award Nominations!
Is your church doing incredible health ministry work? Nominate them! Whether large or small, urban or rural, denominational or independent - we want to recognize ministries that are raising awareness and improving health in their communities. To learn more, go to: https://www.hc2030.org/en/best-practice-nomination

11/07/2025

09/07/2025

While people of color have more natural sun protection due to higher melanin levels, they are still vulnerable to sun damage and skin cancer. Sunscreen is essential for everyone, regardless of skin tone, to prevent. Read more about what people of color need to know about sun protection and skin cancer

People with darker skin need protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays that can cause sunburn and skin cancer. Find out the signs and symptoms of skin cancer.

09/07/2025

Join us for a Fireside Chat on Health & Humanity - it's a free live stream event you won't want to miss!

Join us for a Fireside Chat on Health & Humanity - it's a free live stream event you won't want to miss!

09/07/2025

Join us for the next Live Virtual Health & Humanity session with Pamela Price!

Date: June 17, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM EST
Guest: Oya Gilbert, Founder of Health, Hope & Hip-Hop Foundation

Title: Talking Health with the Fellas

In this fireside chat, we’re diving deep into the conversation about health beyond the doctor’s office. Health is influenced by where we live, work, and grow. From housing to education, income to environment - these are the social factors that shape our well-being.

Click to register: https://balmfiresidechat.eventbrite.com/

08/07/2025

It's UV Safety Awareness Month!

08/07/2025

In July, we raise awareness that UV is the root cause of most skin cancers and encourage the public to take precautions. The AAD recommends that the public year-round. Visit https://www.aad.org/member/advocacy/promote/uv-awareness to learn more.

This July marks UV Awareness Month, when the nation recognizes UV as the root cause of most skin cancers and encourages the public to take precautions. Learn more about how the Academy continues to advocate for skin cancer awareness and prevention efforts.

10/06/2025

International Men’s Health Week 2025 is 10-15 June. Men’s Health Week began in the USA in 1994 following a Senate Joint Resolution. The Week was linked to Father’s Day in the USA and so always ends on that Day, the third Sunday in June. It became an international event in 2002 when it was first marked in the UK. Learn more at

Men’s Health Week began in the USA in 1994 following a Senate Joint Resolution. The Week was linked to Father’s Day in the USA and so always ends on that Day, the third Sunday in June). It became an international event in 2002 when it was first marked in the UK.