People with diabetes will require reliable information about various aspects of their disease to manage it well. This includes information about the disease’s nature, complications, tests, food, medicines and follow-up. Well-informed people can discuss treatment options with their physicians and make informed decisions.
However, the field of diabetes has its share of misinformation. With the increasing use of social media and streaming services like YouTube, anyone can air their opinions about various aspects of diabetes. These may be drugs and diets that have worked for them to biased views on drugs, supplements and disease manifestations. Some may be advertisements disguised as information to promote a product or service. Some may be unproven therapies like alternative medicines or herbs with potential downsides. Due to ease of access and attractive packaging of information, the public is likely to depend on these as if they are the truth.
The current science of medicines and therapies used in diabetes is developed after detailed research. These undergo human trials for safety and effectiveness and are approved by regulatory bodies for use. Professional bodies analyze this information and translate it into clinical practice guidelines for use by physicians and information for people living with diabetes. Modern medicine doctors who practice diabetes will explain some of these on their websites and blogs. These can be considered as authentic information.
Reliable sources of information includes
1. American Diabetes Association: https://tinyurl.com/3ybr8kxh
2. International Diabetes Federation https://tinyurl.com/k9ddd32z
3. Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India https://tinyurl.com/35s8wu9w
4. Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation: https://tinyurl.com/2h3suy65
5. Providence Endocrine and Diabetes Specialty Centre: our website has blogs on various diseases, including diabetes and obesity
https://www.providence.co.in/blog/
As Elliott P. Joslin , a pioneer in diabetes education, said, “The diabetic who knows the most lives the longest.”
Mrs.Rejitha Jagesh, MSc