Diabetes is a disorder involving the lack of insulin, or inability of one's body to utilize insulin, in aiding the uptake of glucose into cells. Individuals with diabetes are usually prescribed insulin or other medications, along with a carbohydrate-controlled diet, in order to assist with the stabilization of blood glucose levels. However, this can be a difficult regimen to adhere to without the proper education or support. Therefore, there are many free resources available to those with diabetes to make such lifestyle changes a little bit easier.
American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association website at Diabetes.org is the forefront of diabetes information for those living with diabetes or living with someone who has diabetes. The site provides resources such as background information on the disease as well as information on diabetes complications, treatment of the disease, and links to forums and blogs where individuals can share stories or questions with other individuals living with diabetes. In addition, the American Diabetes Association website offers self management tools such as MyFoodAdvisor, which assists individuals in planning meals and keeping track of carbohydrates throughout the day, so that those with diabetes can better manage their disease through their diet.
National Diabetes Education Program
The National Diabetes Education Program, in association with the National Institutes of Health, offers a variety of educational resources to aid in diabetes education and management. In addition to articles and printable booklets on the basics of diabetes, the National Diabetes Education Program provides links to public service announcements regarding diabetes as well as printable resources such as fliers and posters regarding diabetes awareness that individuals can use to increase diabetes awareness in their community. Also, the National Diabetes Education Program provides a toolbar that allows individuals to search for informational publications regarding diabetes based on their age, diabetes status, ethnicity and language.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers various free online resources that are helpful to individuals in understanding the disease and how it affects their body. In particular, a link entitled "Diabetes and Me" offers information about diabetes, resources for financial coverage of diabetes expenses, research statistics regarding diabetes, as well as a pdf link to a diabetes management guide entitled "Take Charge of Your Diabetes" that offers tips on daily self management of diabetes including meal planning, exercise tips, and information about blood glucose monitoring. In addition, the "Diabetes and Me" site also offers an interactive tool that shows how diabetes affects the body for males and females. When an individual points to an area of the computerized image of the human body with their computer mouse, the screen displays information on how diabetes can affect that part of the body if the disease is not managed properly. This teaches people with the disease how important self management of diabetes is to a quality life.
DLife.com
DLife.com is a website that provides various resources to assist individuals with meal planning and diabetes management, in addition to information on the types of diabetes. Sections on healthy eating provide information from dietitians, physicians, and other health care experts about the effects of various foods on blood sugar levels. In addition, dLife.com provides a diabetes recipe finder that makes it easier for people to prepare foods that will keep their blood glucose levels under control. Those who sign up for free membership to dLife.com receive periodic emails and newsletters that not only provide the latest diabetes health news, but also provides discounts and special offers on diabetes supplies.
References
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: Diabetes Overview
- Mayo Clinic.com: Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar
- Centers for Disease Control: Diabetes Public Health Resource
- National Diabetes Education Program: I have diabetes
- dLife.com: Your diabetes resource
- American Diabetes Association: Living with diabetes
