Starting A Diabetes Support Group

Starting a diabetes support group can help others deal with diabetes, as well as help you cope with the issues that come along with being diagnosed

If you want to have support, motivation and information for your diabetes management plan, but can't find a support group nearby why not start your own? Here is an outline to use to plan, organize and start your own diabetes support group:

Planning The Basics

I. Decide who Is The Group For

• anyone who has diabetes or who knows someone who has diabetes
• parents of children with diabetes
• kids with diabetes
• adults with diabetes
• spouses of people with diabetes
• friends of people with diabetes

 II. Essentials

• place (community center, hospital, someone's home, etc...)
• is the meeting place easily accessible?
• does it have access to parking?
• do group members have to pay for parking?
• are there stairs (some people can't climb stairs)
• is the meeting place wheelchair accessible

III. Time

• will you meet in the day or evening?
• what time will the meetings end?

IV. Seating

• do you have to provide your own chairs?

V. Contact

• will you use your own telephone number? If so, are you prepared for the phone
• calls? Do you want you home phone publicized?
• will people be able to get information about your group from local organization?
• from doctors?
• refreshments
• will you provide refreshments?
• will group members contribute refreshments?

VI. Conducting The Meeting

• What/Who will you use?
• guest speakers
• overhead projector
• wipe off blackboard
• regular blackboard

VII. How Will Your Distribute Information?

• information sheets
• pamphlets (your own or others)
• study a book (with the whole group)
• online sources (webpage, e-mail, etc....)
• group projects

VIII. Discussion

• different topic for each meeting
• try to use words and terms that are easy to understand
• don't try to "teach" unless you are an expert or professional in the field
• d) use your own experiences when explaining something
• be friendly, use normal speech pattern
• questions session
• open discussion

IX. Emotional Support

Chats Topics

• sharing experiences
• diagnosis
• telling the family
• food issues
• relationships
• changes made in life due to diabetes
• complications
• discuss emotional aspects of diabetes
• anger
• denial
• sadness
• guilt
   
   

X. Motivation/Reward System (Especially Good For Kids)

• certificates
• buttons

• find out if anyone can make copies for you free of charge
• ask all members to give you 12 self addressed/stamped envelopes which you will use to mail monthly announcements
• see if people will agree to contribute money to buy refreshments or will donate refreshments
  
  

HOW TO PUBLICIZE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP

• post notices in hospitals, on supermarket bulletin boards
• post messages on various online services (America Online, MSN, various diabetes e-mail discussion lists, etc...), bulletin board services
• post inexpensive announcements in the newspaper
• leave flyers in doctor offices
   
   

SPECIAL TIPS FOR SUPPORT GROUPS FOR KIDS WITH DIABETES

• Remember to keep it FUN as well as information/motivational
• try to have colorful cartoon graphics whenever (if it's cost effective. please be aware of copyright laws)
• use real-life situations to show the children how to live with diabetes in their life (act out situations, practice what to say, etc...)
• find out if parents are willing to do group projects at home with the children (find out BEFORE you plan any at-home projects)