Getting Connected for Better Control:
The Role of Technology Resources for Children and Youth living with Diabetes.
Children and Young Adults Living with Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic, incurable condition of carbohydrate metabolism that involves an imbalance of the supply of and demand for insulin (Falvo, 2010). Diabetes is a disease in which the body fails to produce or properly use insulin. We need insulin to convert food into the energy we expend each day. Over 20 million Americans suffer from this very serious disease. Between 5 and 10% of these 20 million diabetes sufferers have type 1 diabetes (American Diabetes Association 2016). Most type 1 diabetics are children and young adults. So far, we know of no way to prevent the onset of type 1 diabetes, but it can be managed (American Diabetes Association, 2016). Diabetes is the most common of all endocrine conditions and having Type 1 diabetes the individual is insulin-dependent. With Health Informatics, the initial shock of being diagnosed with this condition is not as crucial as it use to be because the entire family can take control of the individual living with diabetes. Health Informatics provide online tools, games and resources at the tip of your fingers to help educate and inform the entire family of the disease.
Purpose:
Children grow up using numerous technology devices to learn, play, and communicate, but with today’s technology they are also able to use array of diabetic devices to improve their health outcome. Children and young adults must monitor their diet, lifestyle, and glucose levels. Keeping track of everything can be both difficult and inconvenient, so by creating this website has made it easier to help support, give knowledge, and understanding to children, young adults, and caregivers to help make a difference. Health Informatics has made it much easier for type 1 diabetics to reach out online to find supportive networks and information. Also, Health Informatics has made it where the individuals with this disease can be more involved in their health and connect easier to their health care provider.
This site provides the following:
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Provides useful information on type 1 diabetes
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Provides websites that engage the children with diabetes and the caregivers to be more knowledgeable and how to manage their disease.
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Provides mobile applications for type 1 diabetes, so individuals are able to have useful tools to help them keep tract, log, learn and take control of their disease.