Everyday Wisdom: The American Diabetes Association Helps Families Live Well with Diabetes

ALEXANDRIA, VA, Jun 01 (MARKET WIRE) --
When a child is diagnosed with a chronic disease like diabetes, it
affects the entire family in many ways -- both big and small. How does a
family deal with the range of emotions (such as worry, guilt, or anger)
that come with every day family moments that are a normal part of a
family's life, such as finding a babysitter? Taking a family vacation?
Helping your child gain more independence as they head off to camp? Going
on a date? Leaving for college?

The American Diabetes Association has compiled an easy-to-use resource of
everyday wisdom to help families live happily and healthfully with these
unique challenges. Everyday Wisdom provides helpful ideas for families of
children with diabetes, complete with interactive games to help foster and
build communication. This free toolkit is another helpful resource that
the Association's Family Link provides to families of children with
diabetes. The Association's Family Link encompasses a variety of touch
points through which families of children with diabetes connect with the
American Diabetes Association and its volunteers for ongoing support.

"As a medical professional, I see many family members who feel overwhelmed
and isolated by the challenges that diabetes presents. It's also easy to
forget that everyday moments related to school trips, vacations, and even
relationships with siblings, spouses, and extended family members can be a
major challenge when a chronic disease like diabetes is in the mix," says
Lori Laffel, MD, MPH, Chair of the American Diabetes Association's Youth
Strategies Committee. "We developed Everyday Wisdom to help families learn
how to live with diabetes by providing common-sense solutions to everyday
diabetes challenges as well as offering an interactive way to help your
family work as a team to manage your child's diabetes."

With specific booklets for children with diabetes, teens with diabetes,
their parents, and their siblings, Everyday Wisdom reaches out to multiple
members of a family affected by a diagnosis of diabetes. Contents of this
free kit address a wide range of topics including:

-- Helping your child tell others about his or her diabetes
diagnosis
-- Training and educating babysitters to prepare for potential
emergencies
-- Dealing with mistakes in diabetes care
-- Planning for away trips, sports and recreation
-- Transitioning into adulthood with major milestones such as driving
and dating

The kit also includes an interactive card game for the family, an
informational DVD, juggling balls, and the Diabetes Dictionary -- all in
an insulated lunch bag that's ideal for school lunches. This interactive
toolkit was designed for kids and young adults with diabetes and their
families.

Connecting families of children with diabetes with other parents, events
and family resources for life-long support has been a major focus of the
American Diabetes Association over the years. In addition to Everyday
Wisdom, the resources available through Family Link include: Local Family
Link Events, Diabetes Camp, Plant D (a safe and secure interactive online
environment exclusively for youth with diabetes), Parent Mentors, Safe at
School Workshops and tools, and other year-round connections. For more
information about the many American Diabetes Association resources
available to families through Family Link, visit
www.diabetes.org/families.

To order a free copy of Everyday Wisdom call 1-800-DIABETES
(1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org/families. This toolkit was made
possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Eli Lilly and
Company.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight against the deadly
consequences of diabetes and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The
Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers
services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible
information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of
diabetes. Founded in 1940, its mission is to prevent and cure diabetes
and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more
information, please call the American Diabetes Association at
1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information
from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

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Contact:
Dayle Kern
dkern@diabetes.org
703-549-1500 x2290

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