What Does the DOC Mean to You?

Two weeks ago, the #dsma chat was centered on the how and why of people’s participation in the Diabetes Online Community (DOC), and after chat participants shared what brought them to the web for diabetes information, the last question of the night asked them what the DOC means to them.

The answers created a quilt of community and comfort that can’t be denied:

Q5. What does the diabetes online community mean to you? #dsma

— DiabetesSocMedAdvoca (@DiabetesSocMed) September 25, 2014

Q5: It means understanding. And that's worth so so so much to me. #dsma

— Sarah (@meow_its_sarah) September 25, 2014

Q5. Family #dsma

— Scott / Diabetes (@ArdensDay) September 25, 2014

Q5: So. much. Unconditional, REAL support, an instant cheer-up, and a second family. #dsma

— Emily (@SweetMissEmi) September 25, 2014

Q5. A universe of friends who were always there but I didn't know until the #DOC. #dsma

— Laddie (@MNAZLaddie) September 25, 2014

Q5 DOC means a safe place, somewhere I can always go for a pick me up, regardless of what is going on the #dsma high keeps me going wk to wk

— Craig (@HumnPincushion) September 25, 2014

Q5. And oasis that I once thought was a mirage. #dsma

— DiabetesHeroSquad (@DiabetesHeroes) September 25, 2014

Q5: It means "I am NOT alone and never will be no matter what!" #dsma

— Jenn C (@JennMamaBear) September 25, 2014

Q5 That's like asking what does oxygen mean to me. #dsma

— Kelly / Diabetes (@KellyRawlings) September 25, 2014

Q5: The #DOC means inspiration, motivation, and the opportunity to make an impact on the lives of others. #dsma

— James Grinnell jr. (@T1DME) September 25, 2014

Q5. People who get it. #dsma

— Holly Witteman (@hwitteman) September 25, 2014

Q5. It felt like my salvation initially. Now, it's my source for info, laughs, support, advocacy, and life hacks #dsma

— StephenS (@StephenSType1) September 25, 2014

Q5: DOC is proof that in these modern times it's still possible to make meaningful connections with just the tiniest bit of effort. #dsma

— Jeff Mather (@jeffmather) September 25, 2014

And for me?

Q5. Everything. #dsma

— Kerri / Diabetes (@sixuntilme) September 25, 2014

Tune in to tonight’s #dsma chat at 9 pm EST. For information on how to get started with Twitter, jump back to this Diabetes and Twitter 101 post.