Resources for People Living with Diabetes

Finding Support from a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

A diabetes diagnosis can be traumatizing for any family and lead to questions that they may have never thought about before. Can my child eat ice cream? Will they be able to attend school? What do I do if their blood sugar spikes? That’s where a diabetes care and education specialist comes in.

Diabetes care and education specialists are healthcare professionals who work with your family to create an individualized care plan based on your life, culture, beliefs, access to resources and environment among many other factors. Most insurance plans cover this service as do many healthcare systems. To find a diabetes care and education specialist near you, visit DiabetesEducator.org/Find or speak with your primary care provider.

If you are a healthcare professional looking for information about pediatric diabetes care click here.

Inspiring Stories: Working with Diabetes Care and Education Specialists

Finding Confidence in an Unexpected Diagnosis

A sudden type 1 diagnosis changed everything for 6-year-old Gia and her family but a diabetes care and education specialist was there to help.

Learn more about diabetes care and education specialists and what they can do for you and your family.

Read Gia's Story

10 Tips for Parents

Has your child just been diagnosed with diabetes? Check out these downloadable resources.

Tips For Parents of a Child
Diagnosed With Type 1 Diabetes

Available in Spanish/Español

10 tips for parents of a child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes

Tips For Parents of a Child
Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes

Available in Spanish/Español

10 tips for parents of a child diagnosed with type 2 diabetes

Young Adults and Caregivers: Know Your Rights

CDN Resources

The College Diabetes Network has created a series of booklets that help young adults and those going off to college manage their diabetes and understand their rights when it comes to access at school and at work. Also available is a companion guide for caregivers.

Request and Read These Resources:

You’ve Got This: A Guide for Young Adults Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes

Off to College Booklets for Students and Caregivers

Off to Work with Diabetes

Provided by:

College Diabetes Network

The Lasting Benefits of Diabetes Camp

Camps offer a fun and engaging way for youth to learn how to manage their diabetes in a supervised environment, all while making new friends and lasting memories. Options range from weekend day camps to week long, overnight experiences depending on your location and budget. Find a diabetes camp below or work with your diabetes care and education specialist and healthcare team to locate a camp that meets the needs of your family.

Stories from Diabetes Camp: Impacting Lives

Diabetes Camp - My Why

Kelsey Tullis often has conversations with parents of children with T1D about her childhood. They ask what her parents did in regards to diabetes that was helpful and how she handled certain situations. She feels, without a doubt, sending her to camp was the best thing her parents did.

Why I Love Diabetes Camp

Kip Nilsson, age 9, says one of the things he likes most about Diabetes Camp is he don’t have to feel embarrassed about his disease around the other kids at camp, or self conscious about his pump.

DYF Camp Changed my T1D Kiddo’s Life

Sue Parkin recalls sending her daughter to her first Diabetes Youth Families camp and how it opened her and her daughter’s eyes to new ways of managing diabetes.

Provided by:

Find a Diabetes Camp Near Your

Check out some of these great resources to find a camp that works for your family.

Diabetes Education & Camping Association

Children with Diabetes

Beyond Type 1 Camp Finder

Utilizing Peer Support

Peer support communities, both online and in-person, can help fill in the gap of continuing support. These organizations, online forums, Facebook groups and others offer a sense of community and outlet of support for the day-to-day challenges of managing diabetes.

Learn More