The American Diabetes Association - Diabetes Information
The mission of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is "to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes." This site has information arranged by topic, which include background on the different types of diabetes, information for the newly diagnosed, living with diabetes, ADA programs, information for teachers and childcare, and research. Also available in Spanish. 

 

Beginner's Guide to Diabetes
The Joslin Diabetes Center, an affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and the CareGroup hospital system, is a leader in the field "in both basic and clinical research, and is devoted to educating both patients and professionals." This Beginner's Guide provides a list of resources from the Joslin web site for those newly diagnosed or who know someone newly diagnosed with diabetes. In addition to information on care, monitoring, and treatment basics, users can also access online discussion groups, an online diabetes library, and a publications catalog.

 

The Diabetes Center
Sponsored by the Mayo Clinic, "the mission of MayoClinic.com is to help people find the answers and the support they need to manage illness and stay healthy." The Diabetes Center at this site seeks to present the latest in diabetes care and lifestyle tips, and includes links to news articles, diabetes facts, and interactive health evaluations and lifestyle planners.

 

Sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this site provides simplified questions and answers to address topics such as symptoms of diabetes, risk factors, treatments, causes, and diabetes prevention. Links to other organizations are provided for additional information.

 

The Healing Handbook for People with Diabetes 
This basic online text, by Aldo A. Rossini, M.D. and Ruth Lundstrom, R.N./NP C.D.E., M.S., of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, is in its third edition since 1995. It is arranged in chapters and takes the reader through a study of diabetes - "what causes it, how you can adapt your life style to it, and how to care for yourself now that you have it." It includes a glossary of medical definitions as well as useful illustrations and question-and-answer sections that clarify concepts and aid in understanding. Also available in Spanish and Hebrew.

 

MEDLINEPlus: Diabetes
MEDLINEPlus is a site produced by the National Library of Medicine that contains links to authoritative information on diabetes. Topics include alternative therapy, clinical trials, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, disease management, and research. This site also contains links to dictionaries, directories, legal information, organizations, and statistics. In addition, MEDLINEPlus provides links to pre-formulated MEDLINE searches that present citations to recent journal articles on diabetes. Look for the link to Interactive Health Tutorials on the Health Topics Page. These easy-to-read tutorials use animated graphics to explain procedures or conditions, including general information on diabetes and specific tutorials for diabetes eye and foot care. The Interactive Health Tutorials require Flash 5.0 to play on your computer.

 

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): Diabetes
Sponsored by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the NIDDK "conducts and supports research on many of the most serious diseases affecting public health." The diabetes page provides links to NIDDK online publications, Spanish language items and easy-to-read publications. Additional links to NIDDK newsletters, the National Diabetes Clearinghouse, organizational directories are provided.

 

 

Children with Diabetes
Children with Diabetes is an online magazine, created by a non-profit volunteer organization, that contains a wealth of information on diabetes and its management for children and their parents. The resource highlights the latest diabetes research and features information on schools, camps, nutrition, and diabetes health care products. The site also provides a forum for those with diabetes and their families to share information with others through a Message Board and Chat Rooms

 

Kids Learn About Diabetes
This resource for kids is written by Brendan Hannemann as a project to fulfill his Eagle Scout Badge and is supported by Kathleen Link, M.D., F.A.A.P. This resource is written in simple, easy-to-read language and features illustrations and an interactive trivia game that guides the reader through the material. Topics include complications, testing, shots, nutrition and exercise, lifestyle issues, fears and feelings, and research

 

 

Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
From the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Life with Diabetes is a useful site for parents of children with diabetes for information on the daily care and treatment of diabetes, current research findings, reviews of books for children and adults, and additional links. Contact information is provided for users to ask questions and receive answers from experts.

 

CLINICAL TRIALS

 

CenterWatch: Clinical Trials Listing Service
CenterWatch is a Boston-based publishing and information services company "dedicated to providing patients and their advocates with a variety of information services about clinical research." In addition to trial listings, this site provides background information on the clinical trials process, a new trial notification service, and drug directories. Click on "Trial Listings" in the "Medical Areas" list, click on "Endocrinology" and choose a specific diabetes condition. The site provides access to information on U.S. government-funded clinical research studies as well as industry-sponsored trials that are recruiting patients in the U.S. and internationally.

 

ClinicalTrials.gov
The U.S. National Institutes of Health, through its National Library of Medicine, has developed ClinicalTrials.gov to provide patients, family members, and members of the public current information about clinical research studies. To quickly search for diabetes clinical trials, choose "Browse by condition," "Alphabetically," "D," and then select a specific diabetes condition (Diabetes mellitus, Diabetes insipidus, etc.). Users can also search for clinical trials by specific trial location, age group, study type, or funding organization.

 

 

Exercise for the Health of It 
This resource from the Joslin Diabetes Center provides basic information on the use of exercise to treat diabetes. It discusses the benefits of exercise for people with diabetes, as well as the more general benefits of exercise, which include physical fitness, weight control, and psychological well-being. The resource also provides basic tips on starting an exercise routine.

 

Weight Loss and Exercise
This section of The American Diabetes Association's web site provides links to "Frequently Asked Questions about Exercise," "Getting Started" and "Safety Tips". The latter page provides information on the basic guidelines recommended for anyone who exercises as well as extra safety tips for people with diabetes. These guidelines include recommendations on choosing an exercise plan, proper clothing, safety and blood sugar monitoring, and nutrition. Also provided are links to a diabetes exercise quiz and exercise games.

 

NOAH: Exercise
This portion of Ask NOAH About Diabetes contains links to resources from a variety or organizations on diabetes and exercise. Resources include basic information on diabetes and exercise, exercising tips, food exchanges for exercise, and an exercise quiz.

 

EYE CARE

 

Diabetic Retinopathy--Information for Patients
The National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, "conducts and supports research that helps prevent and treat eye diseases and other disorders of vision" and also conducts "public and professional education programs that help prevent blindness." The site presents information to help people with diabetic retinopathy and their families and friends better understand the disease. It also describes the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

 

Eye Care and Retinopathy
The American Diabetes Association provides this resource. It includes a simple overview of eye conditions associated with diabetes and a background on how the eye works. Information on specific conditions, including glaucoma, cataracts, and retinopathy are also included.

Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Eyes Healthy
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases provides this easy-to-read guide. It defines and illustrates the different parts of the eye and the various forms of eye damage that can result from diabetes. It also teaches patients how to prevent or delay eye damage from diabetes.

 

 

The Diabetic Foot
The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society is an association of medical doctors who specialize in foot and ankle care whose mission is to "educate the public in the recognition, prevention, and orthopaedic treatment of foot and ankle problems." This resource provides basic information about diabetic foot problems and offers information on day-to-day care to help prevent foot problems.

 

Diabetic Foot Care Guidelines

FootPhysicians.com is a source of reliable information on foot and ankle conditions. All content has been developed as a public service by the members of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, who are doctors of podiatric medicine with specialty training in surgical and nonsurgical treatment of conditions of the foot and ankle.

 

Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime: A Guide for People with Diabetes
Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime is an illustrated guide provided by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. This resource serves as a guide for developing an individual foot care plan and provides daily foot care advice to avoid serious foot problems. It also highlights problems that should be brought to the attention of a health care professional. Also available in Spanish.

 

 

Nutrition

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease provides information on eating and diabetes, eating right on hemodialysis, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, weight loss and additional nutrition related links. 

 

What I Need to Know about Eating and Diabetes

The National Diabetes Clearinghouse provides information to help decide What I need to know about eating and diabetes.  Topics discussed include: Blood Glucose Levels, Your Meal Plan, Measuring Your Food and many more topics.

 

Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Physical Activity

Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity (PANA) is a statewide organization supported by a coalition of more than 500 public, private, academic, professional and volunteer groups, working to promote policies and environments that support healthy eating and activity.

 

American Dietetic Association

The American Dietetic Association (ADA) serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. ADA members are the nation's food and nutrition experts, translating the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living.

 

American Heart Association-The Heart of Diabetes

Diabetes dramatically increases a person's risk for heart disease and stroke and often is associated with other cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, cholesterol disorders, obesity and insulin resistance. Unfortunately, most people with diabetes are not aware of these prevalent health risks.  The Heart Of Diabetes program was created by the American Heart Association to not only raise awareness of this issue, but help those with diabetes take action to lower their risk for heart disease and stroke.

 

 

 

MEDLINEPlus: Diabetes and Pregnancy
MEDLINEPlus is a site produced by the National Library of Medicine that contains links to authoritative information on diabetes and pregnancy. Topics include disease management, nutrition and specific conditions. This site also contains links to dictionaries and organizations. In addition, MEDLINEPlus provides links to pre-formulated MEDLINE searches that present citations to recent journal articles on diabetes and pregnancy. Resources in Spanish are also available.

 

Understanding Gestational Diabetes: Two brochures available.

Am I at Risk for Gestational Diabetes? This brochure for pregnant women explains gestational diabetes, a type of diabetes that only pregnant women get, and lists the risk factors for this condition.

Managing Gestational Diabetes: A Patient's Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy  This booklet for pregnant women who have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes explains the symptoms of, outcomes, and general treatments for the condition.

 

The American Diabetes Association provides information that is intended for pregnant women who have been recently diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Basic information about gestational diabetes, how diabetes can affect your baby, treatment options, and how to maintain your health after pregnancy is included.