In March of 2007, we started TuDiabetes because we saw that too many people with diabetes were feeling isolated instead of benefiting from the shared experience they could have by connecting to other people touched by diabetes.
Today, Diabetes Hands Foundation’s networks allow members to find support locally and globally. Our more than 23,000 members describe the TuDiabetes family as a lifeline, a source of guidance, a sanctuary, and even a college education! We proudly connect advocates, artists, dreamers, thinkers, and people touched by diabetes of all types so that all of us may live a more expansive life with diabetes.
I sit back and reflect on where we were five years ago and where we are now:
- I have learned to stay flexible, both about my diabetes (not pretending to be perfect) and in the way we do things on TuDiabetes and the Diabetes Hands Foundation (adapting to changing circumstances, challenges, and signals along the way).
- I am more hopeful than ever: I have had the opportunity to talk with (and share the conversations on video) with some of the world’s most brilliant minds working to make our lives better and one day have diabetes be a thing of the past.
- I have witnessed the power of social media beyond socializing: seeing how connected people touched by diabetes now feel better understood and more empowered. Who would have imagined this when MySpace was the big thing?
On our fifth birthday, please help us keep going strong in our mission to improve the lives of people living with diabetes worldwide.
If all members of TuDiabetes donate $5, we will raise more than $100,000. Our goal is less ambitious: we are seeking to raise $20,000 before the end of March. So we ask you to give us 5 dollars, or more if you can.
.Thank you for your support! And here’s to another 5 years!
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Today, March 21 was declared by UNESCO as the World Poetry Day to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world.
We can celebrate it by remembering our favorite poems from the “No-Sugar Added” Poetry Book.
You can get the No-Sugar Added book here at a limited time sale price.
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To apply for a DHF Seeds micro-grant, read the DHF Seeds FAQ and then submit your application online between March 19th and April 2nd, 2012. Please note that the online application must be completed in a single sitting.
In 2012, DHF Seeds is funding nine proposals, three within each category. This year grant recipients are limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and/or members of the Diabetes Advocates program run by the Diabetes Hands Foundation.
DHF Seeds is made possible, in part, through funding provided by Sanofi US Diabetes.
Watch a video where Diabetes Hands Foundation’s President, Manny Hernandez and our Program Manager, Emily Coles explain the DHF Seeds Program and do some short q&a
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Diabetes Hands Foundation is launching a brand new program, called DHF Seeds! This program will provide advocates in the field of diabetes with seed funding to realize their ideas for improving the lives of people touched by diabetes.
“We see so much creativity in the diabetes community! Yet people often lack the resources to make their ideas a reality. With DHF Seeds we want to change this,” said Manny Hernandez, president of Diabetes Hands Foundation.
“Whether artistic, emotional or treatment-related, we are helping passionate advocates bring their innovative, creative and fun ideas to life. The type of ideas funded through DHF Seeds might range from comic books to viral videos to online chats to poster campaigns,” continued Mr. Hernandez.
To be considered for funding, the ideas need to fall within one of three categories: (1) empowering people living with diabetes; (2) connecting people touched by diabetes; or (3) educating and informing people about diabetes.
During the 2012 funding round, grant recipients are limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and/or members of the Diabetes Advocates program run by the Diabetes Hands Foundation. Up to 20 grant applications will be accepted for each category. Funding decisions are based on a combination of judging by an international panel of diabetes advocates and online vote.
“I’m delighted to be a judge for the first round of DHF Seeds grants. As a dietitian, diabetes educator and member of the Diabetes Advocates program, it’s been a joy to witness the rapid growth of support among people in the diabetes community. The DHF Seeds micro-grants will foster this continued growth and be a win for people with diabetes,” said Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE and author of Real Life Guide to Diabetes.
Submissions to DHF Seeds will be accepted online between March 19, 2012 and April 2, 2012. The top five proposals in each category will be asked to submit a short video explaining or demonstrating their idea. The public will vote online for their favorites during June. The winning proposals will be announced on Monday, July 30, 2012.
For detailed information about DHF Seeds, visit: http://www.diabeteshandsfoundation.org/our-programs/dhf-seeds
DHF Seeds is made possible, in part, through funding provided by Sanofi US Diabetes.
See our interview with Dr. Faustman, one of the world’s leading experts in the search for a cure for type 1 diabetes. Learn about the most recent findings from Dr. Faustman’s lab in this exclusive interview she granted us.
Denise L. Faustman, MD, PhD, is Director of the Immunobiology Laboratory at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She has worked in the field of autoimmunity for nearly two decades. In 2001, the Faustman Lab reversed type 1 diabetes in mice with end-stage disease, a project that is now in human clinical trials. For more details, visit: http://www.faustmanlab.org
At Diabetes Hands Foundation we are looking for a creative and resourceful person with a freelancer heart and a passion for the cause of diabetes to serve as Production Assistant for the Big Blue Test program, from March until October 2012. This is a paid gig, but we don’t have a TON of money (we’re a small nonprofit).
Candidates should have great communication skills and initiative to help ensure all the bases are covered throughout the project. We’re looking for easy-going, people persons (people people?), flexible enough to be able to travel if necessary, potentially even internationally –not a bad idea to get your passport ready, you know?- and packed with creative resources ranging from how to secure free or discounted flights/hotel stays where the shooting schedule takes the Big Blue Test video crew, to how to overcome logistical or communications challenges throughout the project.
Being touched by diabetes, having a camera or social media experience is a plus but not a must.
If this speaks to you, or you know somebody who fits this description perfectly, drop us a line at jobs AT diabeteshf DOT org including resume, a link to any samples of past work you may want to share with us and contact information for at least 1-2 professional references.
Please share this post with your family and friends and help us find the ideal PA for this great diabetes awareness project.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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We are extremely honored to announce that our work for DHF has been nominated for “The Innovator” award of the Revolucionario Awards.
The Revolucionario Awards are given by “The Social Revolución”, an interactive movement of Latinos using social media as their platform to create change, and are dedicated to highlighting visionaries and change-makers in the online comunidad.
Diabetes Hands Foundation’s work has been nominated for “The Innovator” Award: “Whether it’s a new app or website, this movement is redefining how we reach Latinos now and in the future.
El Innovator can be an individual, group, organization, or brand with the ganas to inspire change online and off…” “ They utilize the newest online tools to engage la gente in their networks and mobilize them to take action. Whether they have 10 followers or 10,000 fans, The Revolucionario ignites change and, with that, embodies the cry of the The Social Revolución!”
In “Revolucionario’s” words: “Diabetes Hands Foundation has been instrumental to the development of the DHF’s diabetes awareness programs and continued outreach to offer support and diabetes information to nearly 200,000 people touched by diabetes every month. Manny Hernández, its president, is a pioneer of social media and online communication. He and DHF’s staff have dedicated their time to raise awareness, outreach, and support for people touched by diabetes in both English and Spanish.
In 2007 they founded TuDiabetes.org and EsTuDiabetes.org, two online communities in English and Spanish, where people touched by diabetes can connect and share.”
The Revolucionario Awards will be announced on March 12th. We’ll keep you posted.
We wanted to share a great write-up by Allie Beatty, posted on The Diabetes Resource:
“So when I saw this study on how Facebook can affect your physical and psychological responses, immediately I see the segue into how it all comes together with diabetes. The peer-reviewed journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking published the findings of this study.“
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We received great news today and we wanted to share them with you: The Winners of the 32nd Annual Telly Awards have been announced and Diabetes Hands Foundation won two prizes for our Big Blue Test video!
The Telly Awards is a widely known and highly respected national and international competition. Last year, Diabetes Hands Foundation received two 2011 Telly Awards . In 2012, The Big Blue Test video was recognized with a Silver Award, the competition’s first prize, in the category of “Internet/Online Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces – Charitable/Not-for-profit” and with a Bronze award in the category of “Internet/Online Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces – Health and Wellness”.
The video,approximately 2 minutes long, was directed and edited by Sean Ross (http://ethosphane.com). It features children and adults who have diabetes surfing, running, swimming, climbing, hiking, dancing and cycling, while inviting people to do the Big Blue Test to help themselves and help people with diabetes in need. For every test completed, a donation was made to support people with diabetes in need. Roche Diabetes Care funded the program and the donations that helped save the lives of more than 8,000 people
This award winning video promoted the 2011 Big Blue Test, a program created by Diabetes Hands Foundation to raise awareness of the importance of exercise to help manage diabetes. To do the Big Blue Test, we invite people with diabetes to test their blood sugar, do 14-20 minutes of physical activity, test again and share the results on BigBlueTest.org
