Raising Awareness: World Diabetes Day and Month (November)

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 13:39:16 -0500
awareness, chronic, condition, diabetes, disability, health, insulin, metformin, month, sds, student

World Diabetes Day (November 14th) fell on a Sunday - within Diabetes Awareness Month - it 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 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)

ADS just heard from students co-creating the UMBC College Diabetes Network Chapter if students are interested in more information email UMBC@collegediabetesnetwork.org to get connected. They are sorting out meeting times and will be meeting in the coming weeks. Another reason to reach out - they have resource sheets for insulin affordability, which is in harmony with the theme "Access to Diabetes Care - If Not Now, When?"

Their recommended Diabetes Resources include:

BeyondType1: https://beyondtype1.org/college-university-with-type-1-diabetes/

College Diabetes Network: https://collegediabetesnetwork.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/ with a bonus article on navigating diabetes and coronavirus: https://www.jdrf.org/blog/2020/08/10/college-with-type-1-diabetes-during-coronavirus/

Again, students interested in joining the UMBC chapter should email UMBC@collegediabetesnetwork.org to get connected.