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2026-11-01T00:01:00

(BPT) – November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month, a time for those living with diabetes to prioritize regular eye exams and protect their vision. Diabetes affects more than just the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar (glucose). Over time, it can damage the eyes and lead to preventable vision loss from conditions like diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication that damages blood vessels in the retina and is a leading cause of irreversible blindness among working-age Americans. As of 2021, an estimated 9.6 million people in the U.S. have diabetic retinopathy.

Anyone living with diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy, and the risk of developing it increases the longer a person has diabetes. The good news is that losing your sight because of diabetic retinopathy is not a foregone conclusion. To help you protect your vision today so you can enjoy healthy vision tomorrow, the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) offers a few simple steps to proactively monitor your vision for diabetic retinopathy.

Schedule an eye exam

Diabetes can threaten vision in ways that are easy to overlook. For example, diabetic retinopathy can quietly damage the retina years before noticeable symptoms appear. And this might lead to putting off regular eye exams.

Even though vision-threatening changes are occurring in the retina, diabetic retinopathy can develop without early warning. That’s why people with diabetes should have regular dilated eye exams, even when their vision seems fine. These exams can detect diabetic eye disease early, when treatment can help prevent or slow vision loss.

Know the signs

While some people may develop this disease without warning, others may experience symptoms that could signal that they’ve developed diabetic retinopathy. Symptoms you may notice in one or both eyes include:

• blurred or distorted vision
• difficulty reading
• floaters
• a shadow across the field of vision
• eye pressure
• difficulty with color perception

Don’t ignore sudden vision changes

If symptoms do appear, waiting to see if new floaters or blurred vision go away on their own can delay diagnosis of a sight-threatening condition. If you’re experiencing sudden vision changes such as new or increased floaters, flashes of light, a shadow or curtain across your vision, or sudden vision loss, don’t wait for these problems to resolve on their own. Sudden vision changes are medical emergencies that require immediate attention.

Ignoring sudden vision changes can lead to serious complications. In some cases, advanced diabetic retinopathy can cause bleeding inside the eye or scar tissue that pulls on the retina, potentially causing a retinal detachment that requires urgent treatment or surgery from a retina specialist.

See a retina specialist

Without timely treatment, diabetic eye disease can progress, increasing the risk of permanent vision loss or blindness. If you begin to experience any of the vision changes listed above, don’t wait to get treated — see a retina specialist.

Retina specialists are highly skilled physicians and surgeons committed to helping people with diabetic eye disease preserve and improve their vision. These medical doctors have completed up to 12 years of advanced medical training to specialize in ophthalmology and subspecialize in diseases and surgery of the retina, making them the most qualified experts to diagnose diabetic eye disease and develop personalized treatment plans for patients with the condition. Visit www.FindYourRetinaSpecialist.org to find a retina specialist near you.

Taking these simple steps this month can help you protect your vision for a lifetime. To learn more about diabetic retinopathy and other retinal conditions, visit SeeForALifetime.org.

2026-10-30T14:31:00

(BPT) – Key takeaways

• Eighty years after Soldiers at Fort Meade, Maryland, invented “touch and tail,” the Army launched its first men’s and women’s flag football teams through its All-Army Sports program.
• Both inaugural U.S. Army flag football teams competed against other military branches and won silver in the Armed Forces Flag Football Championship in San Antonio, Texas.
• As flag football gains momentum worldwide ahead of its 2028 Olympic debut in Los Angeles, the U.S. Army’s Soldier-athletes bring their own backgrounds, skills, and experiences to the field.

Flag football traces its roots to World War II, when Soldiers at Fort Meade, Maryland, created a non-contact version of football called “touch and tail” to pass the time between missions and deployments. Eighty years later, a new generation of Soldiers is carrying this tradition forward.

In 2026, the Army established its inaugural men’s and women’s flag football teams through All-Army Sports, a program that allows Soldiers to compete across a variety of sports at the elite level while maintaining their Army careers. To qualify, Soldiers underwent an intense training camp where they were evaluated on their technical skills, athletic performance, teamwork and ability to perform under pressure.

After finalizing the rosters, the selected teams competed at the Armed Forces Flag Football Championship in San Antonio, Texas. Both teams earned silver medals at the championship, and a deep appreciation for the camaraderie they built during their short time together. Member of the men’s team, Sgt. 1st Class Raekwon Bouges, recalls, “Competing alongside other Soldiers was probably one of the best parts of the entire experience. You have individuals coming from different duty stations, backgrounds, and military occupations, but everyone comes together with the same goal, which is to win and represent the Army.”

The debut of All-Army flag football comes as it gains momentum as one of the world’s fastest growing sports — reporting a 50% increase since 2020 — and prepares to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. For these Soldiers, competing on the field connects the sport’s history with a new, exciting chapter. “Flag football is its own sport, with different positions, strategies, and skill sets that separate it from tackle football. Now, the world is beginning to recognize and appreciate those differences,” says men’s team member, Staff Sgt. Justin Jordan.

Read on to learn more about the Army’s flag football talent:

1st Lt. Ky’Achia Carey returns to the football field with the Army

1st Lt. Ky’Achia Carey was 6 years old when she wandered onto a Cincinnati youth football field where her younger brother was practicing. Despite joining as the only girl on the team after years of playing with her dad and brother, she continued to play football until middle school, before transitioning to softball, track and cross country, and basketball.

She continued her track and cross country career at West Virginia State University, while also enrolling in a military science course. This showed her the possibility of Army service, prompting her to join the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), and eventually commissioning into the Army as a Logistics Officer at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Football came back into her life in 2022, when she joined a local women’s team forming nearby, and by the time the Army announced it was building its own flag football roster, she had already played on several teams. She sent in a highlight reel to the coach showing her abilities, saying, “I have a resume. I have the talent. Let’s go play.”

She made the roster and caught the pass that gave the Army its first touchdown of the Armed Forces Flag Football Championship — a full circle moment that reminded her how far she had come from being the only girl on her youth football team. But her clearest memory is from a game against the Air Force. The Army team was down by two and hadn’t put a point on the board when she ran a straight route to the end zone and caught the ball. “That touchdown was sweet,” she said, and one of the four she scored throughout the competition. It was quickly followed by an interception from a teammate that showed what can happen when everyone continues to fight and do their part.

But what stayed with her the most was a children’s camp the players led during training. Carey taught one boy a spin move, then watched him pull it off in a scrimmage minutes later. “I hope this kid looks back at that moment and says, ‘This is why I play football,'” she said.

Maj. Quinetta Forby continues her family legacy of service and sports

As the daughter of two Army Soldiers, Maj. Quinetta Forby lived in North Carolina, Japan, and Germany, before her family settled in Georgia. “I did not want to join the Army, to be honest,” she said. “I wanted to go to college, play sports, and go do other things.” But when she realized that the Army would help pay for her college degree, she joined the ROTC program at Tuskegee University and commissioned into the Army as a Logistics Officer, the same job her mother had held years before her.

She started playing flag football just a few years ago, after growing up playing basketball and running track. When the Army announced the creation of a flag football team, she knew she had to apply — following in her mother’s footsteps again, who played on an All-Army basketball team.

In the Army’s second meeting with the Air Force at the tournament, Forby read the quarterback early, stepped in front of a pass, and ran it back for a touchdown on one of the first plays of the game. “It just so happened to be the only touchdown for that game,” she said.

During competition, she remembers the way the team kept pulling each other up when things went wrong. “Forget all the noise. It’s us out on the field,” she said of the mindset that carried them through.

Educator Staff Sgt. Rayanna Johnson hopes to coach one day

Staff Sgt. Rayanna Johnson had been teaching for more than a decade in Jacksonville, Florida, when she joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 2019. Going active duty never felt right to her. “I love my kids,” she said. “I couldn’t leave them.” Serving in the Reserve let her do both, and she has spent the years since balancing drill weekends while teaching and coaching a variety of sports including volleyball, basketball, and flag football.

Shortly after basic training, a friend invited her to a local co-ed flag football league, and she loved it right away. Six years and dozens of tournaments later, she has played internationally in Colombia and competed at the Flag Football World Championships in Tampa, Florida. While deployed to Kuwait, she organized intramural tournaments on base that drew more than 200 competitors.

When the Army announced it was forming its first flag football roster, friends from her deployment kept sending her the flyer until she gave in. She made the team, and in the tournament, she stepped in front of a pass intended for an Air Force receiver and returned the interception deep into Army territory before being tackled a few yards short of the end zone. “It was the best moment of the game,” she said. “A momentum changer for sure.”

Her next goal is to earn a spot on the combined U.S. military team competing at the 2027 CISM Games, the International Military Sports Council’s world championships. After that, she plans to keep coaching, telling her own students there’s no age limit on starting something new. “You can’t really put a time limit on your own greatness,” she said.

The Army offers plenty of opportunities for Soldiers to continue their athletic goals while representing the Army and the country — from All Army Sports to the World Class Athlete Program, which supports elite Soldier-athletes as they pursue the highest levels of competition, including the Olympic stage.

For more information on these opportunities and all the possibilities of Army service, visit GoArmy.com.

2026-10-30T15:35:00

(BPT) – If you believe that smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms will work indefinitely, you’re not the only one. According to the 2026 First Alert^® Safety Pulse survey*, only 7% of homeowners know that smoke and/or carbon monoxide alarms need to be replaced every 10 years.

This is just one of many misconceptions about fire safety that can put your homes and your loved ones at risk. Read on to discover the truth behind some of the most common fire safety myths and learn how to better protect your home and those who live in it.

Myth: I only need smoke and/or CO alarms in the kitchen and common areas.

Fact: The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas and on every level of the home, including the basement.

Myth: Alarm batteries are difficult to replace.

Fact: Some newer smoke and CO alarms make it easy to replace batteries. For example, First Alert smoke, CO and combination alarms feature side-load battery drawers, allowing batteries to be replaced without removing the alarm from the ceiling.

Myth: I only need to test a smoke alarm when it’s first installed.

Fact: Smoke alarms should be tested at least once a month to ensure they are working properly. This is an often overlooked fire safety task: only 34% of homeowners regularly test their alarms, according to the Safety Pulse report.

Regular testing matters because a working alarm can give you valuable time to react, alert your family and get out safely. Look for next-generation alarms like newer models from First Alert that feature a centrally located Test/Silence button, nearly three times larger than previous models, which provides convenient access for routine testing and temporary alarm silencing.

Myth: Smoke alarms always make annoying chirps when batteries need to be changed.

Fact: That unmistakable chirp does, in fact, signal a low-battery warning, but some alarms are making battery reminders less annoying and more helpful. The next generation of First Alert smoke and CO alarm models feature SoftCue™ replacement reminders. Instead of a grating chirp, SoftCue uses a gentle sound to remind users that the batteries need to be replaced 3-5 days in advance, making the reminders less disruptive and giving homeowners time to address the issue.

Myth: Smoke and CO alarms don’t need to be cleaned.

Fact: Alarms should be cleaned about once a month to ensure they work properly when it matters most. Less than a third of homeowners (29%) regularly clean or dust their smoke alarms, leaving buildup that can trigger nuisance alarms, chirping, reduced performance or other unexpected behavior.

Myth: All fire and CO alarms are basically the same.

Fact: Not all smoke alarms offer the same safety features or technology. For example, First Alert smoke, CO and combination alarms feature Precision Detection™. This advanced sensing technology is designed to provide earlier warning of fires in modern homes, where contemporary building materials and furnishings can burn hotter and spread faster.

Myth: If a fire breaks out, I’ll have plenty of time to get out.

Fact: According to the NFPA, you have as little as one or two minutes to escape safely once a smoke alarm sounds. That’s why an important part of fire safety is to create and practice an escape plan at least twice a year.

Knowing what’s true and what’s fiction when it comes to fire safety and devices can help you create a protected, prepared home. To learn more about fire safety, visit the First Alert Safety Corner blog. To learn more about First Alert products, visit FirstAlert.com.

*Resideo Fire Safety Pulse, 2026: Results are based on the responses of 2,000 homeowners aged 18-65 living in the U.S. who completed an online survey.

2026-10-30T09:31:00

(BPT) – Key takeaways:

• Culinary professionals offer five ways for foodies to discover local foods, cultures, seasons and agriculture.
• Travel can focus on hyperlocal foods and what’s in season to heighten the flavor of culinary travel experiences.
• Tips include seeking food festivals, foraging weekends and farm-to-table wine dinners like those offered throughout agriculturally rich areas like Michigan.

Some of the most meaningful parts of vacations involve experiencing local foods, fresh ingredients and related customs, but how do you find authentic spots and dishes? According to people who work in the food business, you can uncover great culinary moments while traveling using the following tricks.

1. Eat the season: How to align your trip with the harvest

Freshly picked cherries from Klenk Orchards in Sparta, Michigan. Photo credit: Pure Michigan

Epicureans don’t just ask where to eat; they ask when. Timing your travels to the harvest or what’s in season offers a more flavorful experience. In Michigan, the second most agriculturally diverse state in America, this means seeking out peaches and sweet corn in late summer or earthy dishes featuring foraged ramps (wild leeks) and morels in the spring.

“I tell people to plan around produce, from spring rhubarb and asparagus to the last autumn apples and winter squash — even maple tapping season,” says cookbook author and baker Martin Sorge. “Check with local farmers to confirm when peak season is to plan your trip, and remember Northern Michigan can be several weeks behind other areas of the Midwest. You’ll find the best Northern Michigan cherries mid-to-late July, for example.”

“There’s an incredible sense of pride, community and connection to nature in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, so I aim to let the land tell the story and guide the menu by using hyperlocal, seasonal produce and foraged goods,” says Carrie Masters, chef and owner of Bird & Toad in Marquette. “My favorite meals are often pieced together from local purveyors, and they are always best enjoyed out in nature right where the ingredients came from.”

2. Follow the footprints of food cultures

Culinary and beverage offerings at Highlands Detroit. Photo credit: Pure Michigan

Authentic food cultures thrive within regional enclaves. Seek out areas where immigrant populations have come to anchor the local cuisine or create fresh fusion experiences, like Detroit-area Levantine bakeries and cafés.

“Detroit has become like a mini-Los Angeles, with pockets of truly surprising and authentic international cuisine and fusions, like Mexican, Cantonese and amazing Korean-American chefs cooking the foods of their home, and adopted city,” says Matt Rodbard, an award-winning food and culture writer and editor of TASTE.

3. Anchor travel around food-focused festivals

Rather than rushing between scattered dining spots, use slow travel principles to anchor your itinerary around regional celebrations, such as harvest and food and wine festivals, like the November Art Coast Food and Wine Festival in Saugatuck Douglas. During these events you can sample a wide range of local flavors at their peak.

4. Engage in the meal prep

True food travel means getting your hands dirty. Seek out u-pick farms and orchards, foraging walks with resort chefs or creamery workshops, like those offered throughout Michigan’s wine coast at properties like Black Star Farms. Participating in the harvest or subsequent meal preparation builds a tangible connection to the land and makes the final dish more rewarding.

“The best culinary experiences give you a sense of place,” says Danny Simmons, director of culinary and events at Black Star Farms. “We believe in the idea that what grows together, goes together, and we build our food and wine experiences around what Northern Michigan is giving us in that moment alongside wines grown and made here. Through experiences like our hands-on cooking classes, dinners and other culinary programs, we invite guests to be part of that connection rather than simply observe it, gaining a deeper understanding of the land, the season and what pairs well together.”

5. Embrace unexpected and interesting pairings

Pair a funky Michigan washed-rind cheese with a dry heirloom hard cider, or local Great Lakes whitefish with a crisp Old Mission Peninsula Riesling. Local wines, beers and aged ingredients are an artifact of the landscape.

Keep these tips in mind as you plan your next vacation. You don’t need to work in the culinary industry to uncover vibrant flavors and authentic experiences when traveling.

Photo above: People enjoying the autumn harvest at Chateau Chantal winery on Traverse City’s Old Mission Peninsula. Photo credit: Pure Michigan