Where Will You Learn About Diabetes? - Part 2

Part 2 of 2 parts

This is the topic for this blog. Where will you learn about diabetes?

The following are just a few of the diabetes websites that I read. They are of interest to me and you may like them.

http://tcoyd.org/ Steven V. Edelman, MD is the driving force behind this site and they have conferences nationwide. In addition to good news and continuing education for the medical community, they have education for the patients and caregivers as well.

http://behavioraldiabetesinstitute.org/ This organization is based in San Diego, CA deals with the psychological side of diabetes and how to deal with this part of your life.  While this organization is still limited to Southern California area, the message is still there and provides some good guidance for those of us with diabetes. Dr. William Polonsky is the founder and president of this organization.

http://www.diabetes-solution.net/ Dr. Richard K. Bernstein has type 1 diabetes and is very vocal about what can be accomplished with keeping it under tight control. He has several related websites. These sites are good for all types of diabetes and Dr. Bernstein is read by all types of people with diabetes. He also has several books that are excellent references for us. Check out his books on Amazon dot com. The forum site is located here. Although Dr. Bernstein has type 1 diabetes, he also is a great resource for those of us with type 2 diabetes.

Use the following in your search engine to fine more on Dr. Bernstein - “dr. bernstein diabetes”. Dr. Bernstein is now writing an article at least monthly for this magazine – http://diabeteshealth.com/. It is hoped that this will give it back some of the prominence it formerly enjoyed.

http://www.diabetes.org/ This is the site for the American Diabetes Association. It is a very large site and will take you a lot of time to find all the information that may be of benefit for you. While the ADA is more for the medical community, there is much information that we can use as well. Take time to explore as much of this site as you have time for or wish. Some studies are kept behind the pay wall.

David Mendosa writes almost entirely about diabetes and related health problems, types of insulin, diabetic equipment, and testing supplies. He does write about problems not caused by diabetes, but that are often associated with having diabetes. He maintains his own web site (the one above) and writes for several magazines and web sites. He is the author of several books and is a sought after speaker on diabetes. If you have diabetes, please do yourself a favor and read his web site. You should also follow his blogs on Health Central here - http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/17/

Alan Shanley is from Australia. He combines diabetes and common sense with his down under humor which is enjoyable to read. He has battled another disease into remission and is a rather remarkable person for his accomplishments.

Tom Ross is from California. He maintains a diary of his battle to manage his diabetes with diet and exercise. His positive attitude and determination have spared him the tribulations of being on medications for management of his diabetes. He is also talented musically.

Janet Ruhl is from the northeast part of the country. Her writings are factual and well documented.

Gretchen Becker is from Vermont. She writes with the same insights and humor that are in her book. I am happy that she now has her own blog (although it is presently inactive). She writes for several web sites as well. Read her blog on Health Central - http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5068/

http://www.healthcentral.com/ Many good writers on many topics.

http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/?ic=1102 For good writers about diabetes.

http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/Blog/ Good writers about diabetes and diabetes related topics.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes/DS01121/TAB=expertblog

http://diabetes.about.com/b/ Presently this site is lacking a writer for type 2 diabetes.

http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/110/94942/misconceptions This is a post from Nov 15, 2009 by Dr. Bill Quick. Since it is different than most that you read, I thought you should consider reading it. You may find other posts of his here on Health Central - http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/110/

http://notmedicatedyet.com/blog/2009Nov.html#110909 This is a blog by Tom Ross that will take you to Nov 2009 and you will need to scroll down to his Nov 9, 2009 post. This is an example of Tom at his best and I agree with what he says.

I belong to a couple of forums about diabetes and this repeats itself very often. All are searching for some simple rules to get their blood glucose under control so they can return to living. They do not realize that diabetes is a 24/7/365 problem they must deal with. Many, but not all, do not want to hear what they are told and never post again. Others take a different tack and reposition their question to elicit a response more in their favor. Failing with this, they post the same or similar questions on several forums. A few wake up, pay attention, and proceed to ask the real questions. They are receptive to the variables and the idea that the "rules" are the ones they discover about their own situation and body chemistry.

We can tell people that "what works for me, may not work for you," but many do not listen. When something does not work, they blame the forum and its' members and do not return. They keep looking on other forums for answers, but do not find them and never post again.

I may be wrong, but "rules" and "quick fixes" seem to be at the top of a list of what these people are looking to find. Very few are type 1's, and the majority is type 2's. Many, unfortunately, do not have insurance and are unable to do everything they should to test as frequently as they need to for determining what foods their body is capable of handling. Controlling their blood glucose now becomes a problem which their doctor often cannot help.

Many people become horrified when I tell them that they must become their own lab rat and conduct experiments on themselves. With type 2 diabetes folks, I am sorry to say, this is the only way you will discover what works for you. What works for others, quite often will not work for you. Testing is the only reasonable path to discover the meal plan that works for you and gets you the blood glucose levels to manage your diabetes.

http://ndep.nih.gov/ While this is a government website, the information on diabetes is good to read.

http://diabetes.webmd.com/ Please read this site with care. There is much good information with some poor information sprinkled in.

http://ginews.blogspot.com/ For those interested in learning more about the glycemic index and glycemic load, this is an excellent site. And the GI News letter is good to have. I started out as a big advocate of the GI and GL information, but that has waned to the point that I know there is often conflicting evidence available from reputable sources and treat it accordingly. I will continue to use this information as a guide, but only a guide.

http://www.glycemicindex.com/ The website for the Glycemic Index.

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/ This is not complete, but it does have its value for those who may need to look up the side effects of the medications they are taking.

http://www.cdc.gov/ This takes you to the main page and then you may research whatever you desire on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

http://www.fda.gov/ This is the main page for the Food and Drug Administration.

Yes, there is a lot more diabetes information available and this only scratches the surface. Use your search engine and try to find other information. Another blog of mine may give you assistance of a different type.