The Diabetes ‘Hood
July 16, 2008 by Tina Radcliffe
Filed under DIABETES
This diabetes journey can seem quite lonely. Connecting to others who understand and help prevents those feelings of isolation.
There is a huge relief that comes from reading about a journey similar to your own. That sense of not being alone is hugely comforting. Sometimes it does take one to know one. Who truly knows what you are dealing with every moment of every day better than someone who IS there, right beside you, in a similar situation?
So, where in the diabetes ‘hood do you hang out?
We’ve already discussed this newcomer which provides a virtual forum and chats. A plethora of photos abounds on this site as well.
ADA
The American Diabetes Association offers an online community for its members at the ADA site, however membership is required.
This patient support community is for questions related to juvenile diabetes including celiac disease, depression, diabetic complications, hyperglycemia / diabetic keto-acidosis, hypoglycemia, islet cell transplantation, nutritional issues, parenting a diabetic child, pregnancy, pump therapy, school issues, and teens with diabetes.
“We make it easy to start conversations, share recipes, ask questions about diabetic products, and much more. Our hope is to give you the support and information you need to live a long healthy life with diabetes.”
Children With Diabetes Online Community
Chat rooms, forums, conferences, education…this site has it all.
The whole avatar gig. Requires a download of the vrml client.
A great all inclusive information and social site.
A tip for your journey out in the virtual world:
Remember: Forever is a long, long time. The amount of personal information you put out on the internet will stay there forever. It can return to haunt you. And indeed the government has ruled that IP addresses are similar to phone numbers and can be monitored. Source. If you don’t want your employer or your insurance provider’s secretary to know everything about your journey, then maintain anonymity when you blog or post in a virtual community.
P.S. We are giving away free books at Battling Diabetes. Check it out here.

Hi, Mary. Pre-diabetes is very much a reality check. Anything I can do to help, holler. You are in the drawing for those fantastic books which are geared at preventing diabetes.
Amy, thanks for the kudos and for dropping by. You are in the drawing.
Cheryl, thanks for stopping by. Battling the same curse in my family. One of the reasons I have been trying to drop those extra pounds. Down almost 30 now. Thanks for stopping by. You are in the drawing.
What an informed, eloquent writer this Ms. Radcliffe is.
We have a strong history of D in our family. This is wonderful info for those of us trying to avoid the family curse. LOL!
Really great blog!
Cheryl Wyatt
Well, Tina, I had a brush with diabetes earlier this year. A blood sugar count around 116, then a fasting count at maybe 136, then the next one back to 116. The doctor called it pre-diabetes and I have a family history of it. Ugh