by Hope Warshaw and Joy Pape
Copyright © 2009 from American Diabetes Association.
Excerpted with permission from the American Diabetes Association.
For more information or to order this book, please visit http://www.shopdiabetes.org/.
Find Support Groups On and Offline
Today diabetes support groups are available both locally and globally via the Internet. Local support groups are usually available through a diabetes education program [also check out: How to Find a Diabetes Educator or Diabetes Education Programs]. Support groups may also be available through your local ADA office or other local diabetes organizations. Typically, support groups are free or only charge a small fee.
The availability of the Internet has opened up communication between people globally. You'll find diabetes blogs, social networking opportunities, chatrooms, message boards, and more. You'll also have opportunities to stay up to date with e-newsletters and more. For starters, connect through the ADA at www.diabetes.org. If you like what you see, you may want to consider becoming a member. ADA membership includes 12 monthly issues of ADA's magazine for people with and affected by diabetes, Diabetes Forecast; a discount on all ADA books and cookbooks; and a network of diabetes support and information that will help you stay up to date on new diabetes research and get you connected to other people with diabetes.
Tips + Tactics: Find Your Healthy Ways to Cope
People cope with the stress and strains of life in varied ways. Research shows the more you put healthy coping skills into practice, the better you'll care for your diabetes.
The activities you can engage in to cope healthfully are endless. If you are on a search, give some of the options below a try.