Train Peer Supporters
Please see Disclaimer: Peer Support Resources below.
(Unit 1, Mod. 1.1, Section 1)General Diabetes Information
What is it?
Diabetes is a disease where the body cannot produce or use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that converts sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes. Approximately 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
Why is it important?
Type 2 diabetes requires regular and ongoing management and care. If poorly managed, it can put people at risk for eye disease, foot amputation, kidney failure, and heart and blood vessel disease.
Learn more about diabetes from the following resources:
- American Diabetes Association (ADA) provides a comprehensive diabetes overview in the "Diabetes Basics" section of the website.
- Diabetes Forecast is a periodical magazine for people with diabetes, offering the latest updates on diabetes treatment and day-to-day coping.
- Diabetes Self-Management is an online magazine for people with diabetes aimed at promoting effective diabetes self-management.
- ADA Complete Guide to Diabetes, 4th Edition: information needed to live an active, healthy life with diabetes from the American Diabetes Association.
- The National Diabetes Education Program has information available on on diabetes incidence and prevalence in the U.S., and diabetes management and prevention.
- The National Diabetes Education Program offers a handout called 4 Steps to Control Your Diabetes for Life that provides information on how to better manage diabetes and live an active life.
Find handouts, tools, and educational modules on basic diabetes information to help train peer supporters and offer peer support:
- The Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center (MDRTC) offers a handout on general diabetes information called "What is type 2 diabetes?"
- The National Alliance for Hispanic Health offers a booklet in Spanish about diabetes general information and control for people with diabetes
Disclaimer: Peer Support Resources
Peers for Progress aims to serve peer support programs around the world by providing a compilation of web-based resources for developing and enhancing these programs. Framed by peer support's core functions as outlined in Learn, we selected these materials from varied sources and from materials provided to us. In doing so, we have sought to include materials that reflect state-of-the-art knowledge of diabetes, peer support, diabetes management, and health promotion. Users should exercise their own judgment in assessing the appropriateness of materials for their own setting and population. Peers for Progress assumes no responsibility for the quality of evidence on which materials are based or consequences of their use.
Peers for Progress has no financial interests with specific websites or organizations listed in this section. For a full listing of our partnerships, please read About Us.
If a user would like to suggest additional resources, please Contact Us. As you use and possibly adapt resources, please give credit to the developing organization.
Peers for Progress is a program of the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation and supported by the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation.