As with so many things in life, knowledge is power when it comes to managing your child’s diabetes. Thanks to the internet, knowledge is literally at our fingertips. But, what’s accurate and what isn’t? Along with the wealth of good information on the web, there’s a lot of misinformation.
Your diabetes team at Akron Children’s Hospital has reviewed various websites to ensure the accuracy of information. Here’s our list of tried-and-true sites that we recommend to patients:
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: jdrf.com
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is a not-for-profit, voluntary health agency with the mission to support and fund research to find a cure for diabetes and its complications. JDRF gives more money directly to diabetes research than any other private health agency in the world. In addition to information on the organization’s research studies, the JDRF website includes:
- Information about the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes (T1D)
- An online diabetes support team
- TypeOneNation Community Forum
- A health insurance guide
- A T1D care kit
- T1D toolkits
- A link to order a free Bag of Hope®, which includes educational materials, coloring and activity books, and a stuffed bear called Rufus the Bear with Diabetes®
American Diabetes Association: diabetes.org
This website offers updates on current national and local legislation concerning diabetes. It also includes calendars of events, information from each state’s American Diabetes Association (ADA) office, and periodical updates and messages from national ADA leadership.
Children with Diabetes: childrenwithdiabetes.com
Children with Diabetes is an online magazine for kids, parents and families living with juvenile diabetes. On this site, you’ll find valuable medical information, advice from experts, links to other fun and educational websites about diabetes, and young friends who want to exchange email addresses so that your child can communicate with them.
Colorado Health Net Diabetes Center: colorado.gov
Although this site’s information is primarily specific to the state of Colorado, similar sites may be available for other states. Information on the site comes from Dr. Peter Chase, clinical director of the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes; the National Institutes of Health; the Colorado Chapter of the ADA, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes topics covered include:
- Definitions, facts and statistics
- Education and treatment centers
- New developments
- Support services and resources
- Library
- Bulletin board of upcoming events, conferences and support group meetings
Joslin’s Diabetes Center: joslin.org
Located in Boston, the Joslin Diabetes Center is an international leader in diabetes research, treatment and patient education. The independent, nonprofit institution is affiliated with Harvard Medical School and is one of only 11 diabetes research centers in the United States that’s designated by the National Institutes of Health. The Joslin clinic develops innovative patient therapies that improve the lives of people with diabetes. Visit the site for the latest news on diabetes research, and for access to an online library and catalogue of publications you can order.
Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes: barbaradaviscenter.org
This website provides information from both the clinical and research divisions of the Barbara Davis Center, as well as updates from the Children’s Diabetes Foundation. The center is part of the University of Colorado School of Medicine and is one of the largest diabetes institutes in the world.
For additional information about diabetes, visit Akron Children’s Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology.
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