Diabetes
Awareness Month is celebrated in November, where we call attention to a
serious health condition that is no laughing matter with its need for
monitoring and management, as well as its intersection with disability
and mortality. November includes World Diabetes Day (November 14th)
which was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Foundation and
the World Health Organization to recognize growing concerns about
escalating health threats posed by diabetes. In 2006, it was recognized
by the UN, and is celebrated on the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting
who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922.
Diabetes
has a wide global reach and fits within the definition of a disability,
and sometimes concerns about its flares (especially with Type 1) have
graduate and undergraduate students reach out for on-campus resources,
such as
- Retriever Integrated Health for a wide range of health needs
- Student Disability Services for academic accommodation - undergrad and grad students
- Employee Accommodations (when leave use and existing policies may not be sufficient)
The students with UMBC College Diabetes Network Chapter let us know that their national organization has been renamed to The Diabetes Link, with the tagline: Diabetes does not define you, but does define us, we exist to support and empower you. The students' recommended Diabetes Resources for young adults include:
- BeyondType1: https://beyondtype1.org/college-university-with-type-1-diabetes/
- The Diabetes Link, Where Young Adults Thrive: https://thediabeteslink.org/
- American Diabetes Association: https://www.diabetes.org/resources/know-your-rights/safe-at-school-state-laws/special-considerations/college-and-beyond
- diaTribe: https://diatribe.org/going-college-and-have-diabetes-learn-you-go-%E2%80%93-powered-college-diabetes-network
- TIDEPOOL: https://www.tidepool.org/blog/navigating-diabetes-and-college-life
- JDRF Mid Atlantic Chapter (previously JDRF Maryland Chapter): https://www.jdrf.org/midatlantic/
Get more details on the UMBC Diabetes Link chapter by reaching out via this link.