You might also like: World Diabetes Day 2013. World Diabetes Day 2016. Perspectives on Diabetes: Why Children with Diabetes Matters. D-Blog Week: Change One Life, Change the World.
Starting this blog back in 2005 wasn’t for page views or for advocacy efforts, to be honest. It was because I didn’t know any other people with diabetes, and I felt alone. I was the only twenty-something I knew who shot up before breakfast, the only one with a bottle of juice in the shower. I wanted to find some…
Until a few months ago, I didn’t know much about the peer-to-peer support and family connection accomplished by ConnecT1D. It wasn’t until Susan Horst reached out to me to see if I was available to visit for their ConnecT1D retreat that I was thrown into their world of the powerhouse diabetes outreach taking place in the Pacific Northwest. Susan Horst, project manager…
Guest Post: Peer Support, and Mending a Broken Heart.
Guest Diabetes Blogger, Infertility and PregnancyAnna Floreen was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of six, and she lives in the Boston area with her husband and their adorable puppy dog. She’s currently working as the Community Outreach Manager for Glu and travels the country speaking at diabetes-related events. A champion for diabetes camps and peer-to-peer support, Anna works tireless to build up the…
What Does the DOC Mean to You?
Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Psychosocial Support, Real Life Diabetes, UncategorizedTwo 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…
Seeking PWD Peers.
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Online Community, Psychosocial Support, Real Life DiabetesTwo weeks ago, I was in Vienna for the third annual European Animas Blogger Summit. (I’m a blogger, and I have a working relationship with Animas. Only missing the European part, and I can’t even pretend because I was once told that my attempt at a British accent was akin to Dick Van Dyke’s Mary Poppins attempt. So, no.) Other…
An In-Depth Look at the Diabetes UnConference.
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Guest Diabetes Blogger, Psychosocial Support, Real Life Diabetes, Relationships, SUM in Other PlacesPeer to peer support has been shown to be highly beneficial to those living with diabetes. The report, “Peer Support in Health – Evidence to Action,” summarizing findings from the first National Peer Support Collaborative Learning Network shared that: “Among 20 studies of diabetes management, 19 showed statistically significant evidence of benefits of peer support.” In keeping with that theme, The…
I missed the last day of Diabetes Blog Week, but I’m determined to follow through on the prompts, because I love being part of this community. The last prompt is to highlight some of the work we’ve loved reading this past week: “As we wrap up another Diabetes Blog Week, let’s share a few of our favorite things. This can…
Power of Patient Communities.
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes and Emotions, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Healthcare, Psychosocial Support, Real Life DiabetesAt the end of November, I had the opportunity to contribute an article to Pharmaphorum, which is a UK-based publication with the mission to “connect healthcare thought leaders to support the pharma industry in delivering innovation.” Thanks to the thoughtful responses from Bob Pederson, Shannon Marengo, Laura Gibson, and Melanie Bunda, I was able to highlight some of the benefits…
Partnering for Diabetes Change.
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Real Life DiabetesWill you be at the CWD Friends for Life conference? There’s panel taking place, discussing “Social Media & The Monster Under the Bed: The Latest Thinking on Fearing vs. Embracing Social Media,” focusing on efforts to validate the role of peer-to-peer support in diabetes management. Here are some details: I am proudly involved with this project, and am inspired by…