American Diabetes Association , One of the easiest and simplest to use (and it’s free) is from the American Diabetes Association’s site.
To take the risk assessment test, go online to www.diabetes.org .
The test asks simple questions, such as about weight, age, family history, and other characteristics.
If a person decides to take the risk assessment via phone, then he or she can call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383; yes, there is an extra letter for a phone number, “S”, but just drop that number, which would be 7).
Diabetes Forecast , Another site is sponsored by the Diabetes Forecast publication (see magazines above) and is a similar assessment to the one offered by the American Diabetes Association. See http://www.diabetesforecast.org .
National Institutes of Health , The government has a risk-assessment test for seeing whether a person is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. It is free to use at https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-communication-programs/ndep/am-i-at-risk/diabetes-risk-test/Pages/diabetes-risk-test.aspx .
Cleveland Clinic Foundation , This group has a simple, free risk-assessment test. It can be found at http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/interactive/diabetes.asp .
What are some websites that help a diabetic find a dietitian?
Many websites help a diabetic person find a dietitian in his or her local area. The following lists several of the best places to learn about diabetes and diet:
• The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) can help people with diabetes find a dietitian at http://www.eatrightpro.org/ .
• There are also websites that offer a dietician professional in a person’s area. For example, HealthProfs.com at https://www.healthprofs.com/cam can search a person’s state for a dietitian who specializes in diabetes.
Are any special days, weeks, or months set aside for diabetes awareness?
Yes, there are several days and periods, depending on the organization sponsoring the event, set aside for diabetes awareness. The following lists some of those days, weeks, and months:
American Diabetes Association Alert Day , This is usually celebrated on the fourth Tuesday in March and is when the association urges people to take the type 2 Diabetes Risk Test. The test includes simple online questions, such as about age, gender, family history, weight, race, and ethnicity. It is used to help people realize not only the risks of type 2 diabetes but also to assess their own possible risk factors. Go to http://diabetes.org/risktest (or call 1-800-342-2383, or 1-800-DIABETES).
Participants hold up the blue circle symbol during a World Diabetes Day event. World Diabetes Day is held on November 14, the birthday of insulin co-discoverer Frederick Banting.
National Diabetes Month and Diabetes Awareness Month , November is National Diabetes Month, and according to the National Institutes of Health, the reason is “so individuals, health care professionals, organizations, and communities across the country can bring attention to diabetes and its impact on millions of Americans.” Each year has a different theme. (Find out more at https://www.niddk.nih.gov/healthinformation/health-communication-programs/ndep/partnership-community-outreach/national-diabetes-month/Pages/default.aspx ). November is also considered Diabetes Awareness Month in many parts of the world in an effort to raise diabetes awareness.
World Diabetes Day , World Diabetes Day was started in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and World Health Organization in response to the increased number of people around the world who are developing diabetes. It is held on November 14 each year. More information can be found at http://www.idf.org/wdd-index/ .
American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure , According to the ADA, the Tour de Cure involves thousands of people across the United States who ride to support diabetes research. More information can be found at http://tour.diabetes.org/ (or call 1-800-342-2383, or 1-800-DIABETES).
What are some organizations that train dogs to help people with diabetes?
Many organizations train dogs to help certain people with diabetes.
Not everyone is a candidate for such an animal, nor is every dog a candidate to be trained, but there are several groups that can help educate people with diabetes about the possibilities.
The following lists only some of those groups found on the Internet, with several linking to upto-date information on their Facebook pages from their websites (for more information about dogs and people with diabetes, see the chapter “Taking Charge of Diabetes”).
Please note that because such dogs are specially trained, many organizations have a long waiting list:
Diabetic Alert Dogs of America , DADA is a group that provides dogs and training, along with education about such animals; at www.diabeticalertdogsofamerica.com .
Dogs 4 Diabetics , This group has a very long waiting list and is mostly run by donations it receives; at http://dogs4diabetics.com .
Canine Assistance, Rehabilitation, Education, and Services (CARES) , This group provides diabetes alert dogs but, again, has a very long waiting list; at http://www.caresks.com .
Diabetes Alert Dog Alliance , This group has a listing of possible qualified trainers around the country; at http://www.diabetesalertdogalliance.org .
There are other places to investigate, too, including local adoption agencies such as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Humane Society. One group even offers training workshops around the country for people who want to train their own diabetes alert dogs (at www.Diabeticalertdoguniversity.com ). Books and videos are also available, but be forewarned: Not all dogs qualify, and it may take a year or more to train a dog to become a diabetes alert dog.
U.S. GOVERNMENT HELP ON THE INTERNET
How is the Americans with Disabilities Act involved with diabetes?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law enacted in 1990 (amended in 2008; in effect in 2009) that protects people with disabilities from discrimination. Under this law, diabetes can be considered a disability. Details about the ADA can be found at https://www.ada.gov/ .
Are there any government websites that offer educational material for people with diabetes?
Yes, many government websites do. Here are some of the more well-known sites
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , This site, supported by the government as part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, helps disseminate information about the basics of diabetes with plenty of up-to-date information. It also has educational information for people, children to adults, about diabetes, including the basics, statistics, and programs to help prevent diabetes. It can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/home/ .
CDC Registry , This site provides a national registry of recognized diabetes-prevention programs. It lists contact information for all CDC-recognized organizations that have type 2 diabetes-prevention programs in communities across the United States. (All of these programs have agreed to use a CDC-approved curriculum.) It can be found at https://nccd.cdc.gov/DDT_DPRP/Registry.aspx .
National Diabetes Education Program (under the Department of Human Health and Services’ National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases), This site has a great deal of information, not only for the public, but also for health care professionals, found at https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-communication-programs/ndep/Pages/index.aspx .
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Health Information Center , This center offers the public information, education, and the latest news about diabetes. It can be found at https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes .
The Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center , This center offers information on genetics and disease, including information on diabetes connections. It is at http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/ .
What is the U.S. government’s TrialNet program?
There is some help from the U.S. government when it comes to screening family members of people with type 1 diabetes and latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA).
The government-funded TrialNet program screens family members of people with the disease by measuring blood samples for auto-antibodies, which are considered to be strong indicators of someone’s developing type 1 diabetes.
Family members of type 1/LADA diabetes can also find information. (For more about type 1 diabetes and LADA, see the chapter “Prediabetes and Type 1 Diabetes.”) See https://www.diabetestrialnet.org/ .
FAVORITE APPS
Are there any free smartphone apps that help a person with diabetes?
Yes, there is a plethora of apps that help people with diabetes, too many to mention here (and more are being added every year, sometimes every month). The following lists some of the more well-known free and pay-for apps:
Glucose Buddy , This app tracks glucose readings, checking the daily highs, lows, and averages and presenting them on a graph. This feature allows users to understand trends as they go through the day and week. There are even more features on the web version. This is free and available for Apple and Android devices. It can be found at http://www.glucosebuddy.com/ .
Gomeals , This app tracks restaurant offerings, listing carbohydrates and nutrition for menu items. It does this using GPS technology on smartphones, determining a person’s location and showing menus for restaurants in the immediate area. It is free for Apple and Android devices. It can be found at https://www.gomeals.com/ .
Fitter Fitness Calculator , For those interested in keeping their weight down or losing weight, especially if they have diabetes or are prediabetic, this app keeps track of a person’s body mass index (BMI) and weight loss. It is free for Apple devices. (For more information about BMI, see the chapter “Diabetes and Obesity.”) The app can be downloaded through iTunes, Google Play, and several other places on the Internet.
Diabetes Companion , This app, from mySugr, helps people with diabetes keep track of their blood glucose levels. Users enter information about the foods they’re eating, how they’re feeling, what activities they’re doing, etc. The app then plots a graph, giving a seven-day average of how many hypo- and hyperglycemic episodes the person may have had; it even allows the person to print out the information for a health care provider. It can be found at https://mysugr.com/apps/ .
Are there any pay-for smartphone apps that help a person with diabetes?
Yes, there are many pay-for smartphone apps that help people with diabetes, again, too many to mention here (and more are frequently added). The following lists some of the more well-known ones:
Diabetes App , This app, put out by BHI technology, costs $6.99 at this writing and is available only for Apple devices. It tracks a person’s carbohydrates consumed and holds such information as medications, activity, glucose readings, nutritional data, and weight. It can be purchased from iTunes.
Sparkpeople , This app is for Apple and Android devices and costs $3.99; for Black-Berry users, it is free. It is actually a diet and food tracker, so a person can keep track of calories, carbohydrates, protein, fats, weight, and blood glucose levels to help control blood glucose highs and lows. Information can be found at http://www.sparkpeople.com/mobile-apps.asp .