many crucial issues, including how to stay motivated about lifestyle changes, how to cope with frustration, and ways to lessen anxiety about complications you may encounter.
Online communities
Thanks to the Internet, you can enjoy many of the benefits of a support group without ever leaving home. Online message boards are a great place to connect with other people, and virtual communities have some distinct advantages over traditional support groups. For one thing, you can log on any time you want. You can also stay anonymous if you wish. As with face-to-face support groups, it’s probably best to find a message board that’s moderated by a professional.
Once again, the Joslin Diabetes Center offers a model service. The center runs discussion boards on a variety of topics, including meal planning, beating diabetes burnout, and the special challenges for teens living with diabetes. The discussion boards are open to everyone, not just Joslin patients. For more information, click here.
The Diabetes Hands Foundation is another online favorite of people with diabetes. You can find it here.
Q&A: What Blacks Should Know About Diabetes
Newsletters
Signing up for a newsletter is a great way to stay informed about diabetes. Many newsletters combine practical tips with the latest news. Some will come to your mailbox, others are only available through e-mail. Ask your diabetes educator to recommend a newsletter that’s right for you. You can also browse through the newsletters offered by the American Diabetes Association here.
Discrimination
If you feel you’ve suffered discrimination because of your diabetes, you may need a different kind of support. The American Diabetes Association receives countless inquiries from people who want to know what they can do about discrimination on the job, at school, or elsewhere.
The educational and legal resources available on the ADA Web site can help you protect your right to fair and equal treatment. For example, the ADA was involved in the case of a San Antonio man who was denied a job as a policeman because of his diabetes. The courts eventually ruled it unlawful to disqualify a job candidate solely on the basis of diabetes.
Whether you need to find out your rights on the job or just want to talk with others who understand the sort of day you’re having, help is available.