Albuquerque Public Schools: November 2021 Employee Wellness Newsletter

Press release from Albuquerque Public Schools:

October 27, 2021

With this thought we ease out of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and turn our attention to November and Diabetes:

The one thing many of these devastating diseases have in common is how to prevent them.

If you Google "ways to reduce the risk for cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or obesity", you'll get a list similar to this: exercise regularly, eat a diet rich in vegetables, legumes, healthy grains, eat less meat, reduce sugar/alcohol intake, quit smoking, strive for 7-9 hours of sleep on average, and practice ways to manage stress. Some of these preventable chronic illnesses follow each other like a pack of girls heading to the restroom. Meaning, when you get one, more will follow.  

Type 2 diabetes is a preventable chronic illness that affects 29.1 million people -  that is one out of 11! One out of four people don't know they have it. Diabetes leads to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure (both of these conditions can also lead to diabetes) blindness, neuropathy, amputations, and kidney failure.  

If we learned anything over the last year and a half, it is that the better we take care of our health - overall - the less risk we have for any preventable chronic illness as well as complications from COVID. 

The good news is, improving our health doesn't have to be hard and we don't have to do it alone. Simple daily changes can make a big impact on our health. Below are free APS Employee Wellness resources to help prevent illness, manage stress, boost immunity and well-being.  

APS Employee Wellness offers many free programs to help all employees (regardless of benefits coverage or full/part-time status) lower their risk for disease, attain lifestyle and weight loss goals as well as manage stress and mental health issues.  

• Pre-Diabetes Prevention Program: Are you one of the 1 in 3 who have pre-diabetes and don't know it? Let's just nip that diabetes risk right in the bud! Join this national pilot program External link from the CDC and through NMSU. Learn more by attending one of the information sessions External link in December. 
• Livongo:  Get your life back and manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity with this personalized program- Livongo External link . The name is short for Live On The Go! Because having a chronic illness can hinder our positive life experiences. We want you to get that back and feel better! Participants receive one on one expert coaching, integrated tools to manage blood sugar, blood pressure, and weight loss. *This program is free for eligible employees.
• Health Coaching: If you are not covered under APS Benefits and would like help with managing an illness, weight loss to improve your health, or to simply feel better, APS offers free Health Coaching  External link to all APS employees.
• Get To Know Your Gut Health: This series runs Tuesday, Oct. 12- Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 4:30. Participants are learning the role our gut health plays in our total physical, mental and emotional well-being. Topics are listed in the calendar. Weekly recordings, slide decks, and "the bottom line" is in the calendar day. Get access to the series on the APS Employee Wellness Calendar External link .
• Saturday, Nov. 6 at 10:00 am - Practices to Reduce Worry - Join this timely Life on Mindfulness workshop. This is a free, flexible program for all employees that offers weekly drop-in meditations, new monthly content, and Saturday workshops. Links for weekly drop-ins and the Saturday sessions are in the APS Employee Wellness Calendar External link . Enroll in the Life on Mindfulness Program External link  for all content and email reminders. 

• Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 11:00 am: Micro Moves for Better Health External link - Wellness is more than a great check-up. All aspects of our being – mind, body, and spirit – interact and impact our health and well-being. When it comes to making lifestyle and habit changes to support this big picture, small moves can be the way to go. From sleep strategies to social connections, join us to find your small steps to wellness. This is a free seminar hosted by Cigna for all APS employees. 

• Thursday, Nov. 18 at 6:00 pm: Cozy Casseroles Virtual Cooking Class External link   Healthy and savory one-dish meals are the way to go for busy days. Casseroles are easy meals that can feed the whole family. Join us for this fun, virtual cook along as we create nutrient-packed versions of some classic casserole favorites. These are recorded. If you register and can't make it you will receive the recording. It is also placed in the APS Employee Wellness Google event calendar External link under the event day/description. 

• Nourish Your Green Zone: Our capacity to manage stress in a more healthful way can improve when we Nourish our Green Zone External link opens a new window. ! Sign up for this ongoing, self-paced virtual program. 

• MyStress Tools: For interactive, online, and app-based resources to help manage stress and anxiety and build resilience try MyStress  External link Tools.
• Click on the Mental Health Corner External link opens a new window.  for a list of different resources APS offers for mental and behavioral well-being.
• APS EAP Program: Employees and immediate family members have access to free, confidential short-term counseling through the EAP program. Please call the EAP office at (505) 884-9738 to schedule an appointment. WeCounsel virtual sessions are available.
• 2021 Employee Wellness Incentive Program: It's not too late to log those points and earn rewards like a 3-month NMSW membership, 3-month Les Mills On Demand subscription, gift cards to Flying Star, Weck's, Sports systems, Stone Age gym passes, and much more!  This program is for all full-time employees (regardless of benefit coverage status).

This press release was produced by Albuquerque Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.