November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. About 215,000 young people under 20 years of age have diabetes. Most of them have type 1 diabetes. As obesity rates in children continue to soar, type 2 diabetes, a disease that used to be seen primarily in adults over age 45, is becoming more common in young people. To lower the chance of getting the disease be active and make healthy food choices. Thanksgiving is just around the corner so why not try something new this year. Replace your traditional mashed potatoes with creamy mashed cauliflower or creamed parsnips. These vegetables make a perfect low-carb stand-in. Are you in charge of making the stuffing? Try using whole wheat bread and adding some dried fruit mixed with a variety of nuts. And instead of taking a nap before pie, take the kids for a nature walk to enjoy the colorful season. The American Diabetes Association recommends 20 -30 minutes of increased heart rate 3 to 5 days a week.