Diabetes and its myriad impacts on daily life are complicated to navigate. Thankfully, there are ample resources available to help guide you through life with diabetes. So wherever you are on your journey – newly diagnosed and overwhelmed, an old-timer looking for fresh tips, or just someone trying to learn to better support a diagnosed Friend in the Fight
– we’ve put together this diabetes resource guide to get you started.
Understanding the types of diabetes diagnoses
One crucial aspect of diabetes is that it can be different for each person. For starters, different types of diabetes involve different causes, risk factors, treatments, and complications. Even within each type, the presentation of symptoms and impact on quality of life can vary widely.
For a comprehensive guide to the many different types of diabetes (yes, there are more than just 2), check out this guide from Beyond Type 1.
1. American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association has a wealth of resources on each type, from treatment and recipes to building a strong community. They are also leaders in diabetes research and advocacy.
2. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) fights for Type 1 patients through research, political advocacy, and patient support. Their resource center is thorough, well organized, and engaging, and helps to provide community through support groups, as well as online and in-person events.
3. Beyond Type 1
Despite the name, Beyond Type 1 offers support for patients with all types of diabetes. The website is easy to access and although it seeks to engage a younger audience, it contains a vast depth of information and resources for all ages. They even have a “Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll” section dedicated to topics typically avoided or taboo yet so necessary to actually living a full life with diabetes.
Note: JDRF and Beyond Type 1 teamed up to create Jesse Was Here, a beautiful resource for family members grieving someone lost to diabetes.
4. At-home resources to avoid diabetes complications
Health complications caused by diabetes can be serious, so it’s important to be in frequent contact with your doctor and care team about how to avoid these issues. For at-home resources, here are a few helpful tips from the CDC, Mayo Clinic, and American Diabetes Association.
5. Resource to help fight stigma when diagnosed with diabetes
The unfortunate reality is that diabetes diagnoses are often met with stigma. This thorough resource from DiaTribe (another fantastic organization to check out!) helps break down this stigma, where it comes from, why it is harmful, and how to combat it when you see it.
Other resources:
- Find a diabetes camp near you
- Top 10 Tips for People Diagnosed With Type 1
- Top 10 Tips for People Diagnosed With Type 2
- American Diabetes Association’s resources for newly diagnosed
We hope that this diabetes resource guide will provide helpful resources no matter where you are in your journey!
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