Beyond Type 1 Press Release
Earlier today, the Board of Directors for the Diabetes Hands Foundation (DHF) announced that they will be winding down their organization. Since 2008, DHF has been a pioneering force for the diabetes community, uniting efforts across Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and across languages and backgrounds. While DHF will unfortunately be shutting down, the two communities that DHF runs – TuDiabetes.org (in English) and EsTuDiabetes.org (in Spanish) – are critical and must be maintained.
After a thorough search DHF selected Beyond Type 1 as the new home for TuDiabetes.org and EsTuDiabetes.org. Beyond Type 1 is honored to continue operating these two communities, and to carry these communities into the future. Millions of visitors rely on TuDiabetes.org and EsTuDiabetes.org, and we will make every effort to continue and expand their reach.
Beyond Type 1, since its inception, has been committed to efforts including more than Type 1 diabetes. The diabetes community is stronger together. An understanding of Type 2 informs an understanding of Type 1 and vice versa. When it comes to diabetes, stigma and many complications do not discriminate by type. When people living with diabetes are brought together, the result is greater numbers and resources and a louder voice. Communities like these ensure that no one living with diabetes ever feels alone.
We have tremendous respect for TuDiabetes.org and EsTuDiabetes.org, and we intend to transition the two communities seamlessly from DHF to Beyond Type 1. We intend that, for the foreseeable future, the two communities will retain their name, the way they operate and their culture. As part of that transition, we are excited to announce that DHF’s Director of Community, Mila Ferrer, will be joining Beyond Type 1 as our Director of Programs. Mila will continue to oversee the management of these two communities and work to expand them.
The current resources being provided to the Hispanic diabetes community are insufficient. The diabetes resources being provided to underserved populations as a whole are insufficient. TuDiabetes.org and EsTuDiabetes.org are an important part of the equation and an exciting addition to the Beyond Type 1 family of programs, but there is more work to be done. Beyond Type 1 is committed to expanding our efforts to address these problems on a global scale.