Type 2 Diabetes Community

Whether you've just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or have been living with it for a long time, online peer support groups can make a significant difference in your diabetes management.

People living with diabetes or looking out for someone living with diabetes involve constant decision-making and stress. Furthermore, healthcare providers are not available to address essential diabetes-related inquiries 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

People with type 2 diabetes often rely on the diabetes online community (DOC), an online support group, or similar for immediate information and concerns, which are available on nearly every social media platform.

What is the diabetes online community?

Many of these communities were founded by people with diabetes and serve as a safe space where anyone impacted by the disease can seek assistance, exchange knowledge, or simply learn from others' experiences - all without the anxiety of being judged or stigmatized.

Since at least 1982. There have been online support groups, creating a venue to disseminate information, give voices to strangers, and build community.

Our Facebook group "Winning Type 2 Diabetes Together" is no exception. Today, we discuss what DOCs are, their importance and benefits, and what our type 2 diabetes group is about.

The importance of an online diabetes community

From the time we are born we grow emotionally, intellectually, and physically through our relationships and our surroundings and we begin to develop our sense of community.  Communities play an important role in every aspect of our lives, especially for people living with type 2 diabetes.

It creates a sense of belonging

Our identities are built around communities, where we’re from, what music we like, a religion, or even our favorite food. Having a sense of community unites us and gives us a sense of belonging to something greater, a greater connection between people with which you share things in common.  We can connect, grow, learn, achieve, and feel safety and security through this. 

Type 2 diabetes may be isolating for a lot of people living with it. Health interventions aimed at facilitating connectedness among seniors have recently gained traction, seeing as social connectedness is increasingly being recognized as an essential determinant of health.

People with diabetes (particularly type 2 diabetes) are often afraid of being stigmatized if they reveal their diagnosis to others.  The diabetes online community members can assist people with diabetes in forming a support network that is more knowledgeable about the day-to-day complexities of type 2 diabetes management.

A1C and glycemic levels may be improved.

Diabetes online community use, on the other hand, was linked to a lower A1C in the adults who took part in the study. According to the Mayo Clinic, A1C measures average blood sugar level over the past two to three months and is often used to diagnose diabetes and monitor the effectiveness of diabetic management strategies. In this study, everyone's objectives were different, but A1C levels were less for 7%, indicating improvements in blood sugar control and a reduced risk of diabetes-related health problems for people actively using support groups.

Furthermore, as shown in a study released in April–June 2019 in JMIR Diabetes, highly active members are more likely to have improved glucose levels than users with reduced engagement.

The improved results may be because DOCs provide accountability and encourage people to monitor their blood sugar levels and participate in more self-care activities.

It encourages the development of better self-care habits

Checking glucose levels, using insulin, staying active, and/or eating a balanced diet are all examples of self-care activities that diabetes educators recommend. People with type 2 diabetes that use online communities are often more likely than non-DOC users to engage in more self-care activities.

Diabetes online groups give people living with type 2 diabetes a place to crowd-source answers to common self-care issues like weight loss, the finest technology for blood sugar monitoring, and nutritious foods for diabetics, all of which helps them achieve long-term success and good health.

Winning Type 2 Diabetes Together

Today, technology is both a tool and a hindrance, it can be a gift and a curse. But, in many ways, communities can now be found through online platforms. As we get older it can become harder to connect with people around us. But finding community, and connection doesn’t have to be a struggle with technology at our side. Science showed that connections actually hold the power to influence and ease stress and feelings of loneliness. 

Winning Type 2 Diabetes Together is a supportive community for everyone suffering from high or unpredictable glucose levels, with an emphasis on type 2 diabetes. It’s the best place to find support, knowledge, lifestyle tips, and recipes; whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been coping with the condition for years.  Our community is strong because of our past and present experiences and shared goal to live healthy lifestyles with Type 2. 

Winning Type 2 Diabetes Together is a safe and transparent community. In addition to CuraLife's support and content, feel comfortable asking questions, helping others, starting or joining discussions with people coping with the same challenges as you, and making friends.  Whether you are someone who wants to become very active through posting, sharing, and writing OR a quiet observer on the sidelines, we can share in community together, knowing that there is no shortage of opportunities to learn, support, and grow in our Facebook group. We are giving you the support you need to succeed. We also want to state that we value our safety and security environment and use these values as guiding pillars within our community. We understand the need to feel safe on the internet, especially on social media. 

The Benefits of Joining a Type 2 Diabetes Community

If you’re still not so sure if it’s beneficial for you, let’s break it down into these key takeaways from being a member of our group:

Knowledge

One of, if not the most significant, reasons you'd want to join our community is the chance to learn from one another.  Armed with the knowledge, you can effectively manage type 2 diabetes. 

Connections

Life is nothing without connections. It can be isolating to tackle different stages in life and maneuver the changes that come with living with type 2. We realize we are stronger together through solid connections, and we are not alone. 

Inspiration

Not feeling compelled, not feeling creative, not feeling like reinventing the wheel? You don’t have to! Between our expert CuraLife team and our massive online community, we have the brilliant and timely tools and tips best for type 2’s. 

Resources

A comprehensive analysis of the latest trends, topics, and information about living a healthy lifestyle related to type 2 diabetes. 

Support

Every day, your peers ask for advice, share stories and pictures, and open themselves up to the community. This space is a place to seek relationships, stay socially engaged, and campaign for others - you choose your involvement level from frequent poster to quiet observer. 

The community has improved. Join us!

Have you joined? If not, there's no better time! Continuing through the end of the month, we will be celebrating with excellent webinars, events, and giveaways! There aren’t risks or costs associated with joining our community, and we invite you with open arms. If you’re reading this and know someone with type 2 diabetes who would benefit from being a member, please ask them by sharing the page.  We can’t wait to see you!