Since beginning work at the Diabetes Hands Foundation, I have become well aquatinted with and empowered by the diabetes online community. YOU GUYS!
Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of watching it grow and prosper. Everyday, I am both surprised and enchanted by the rapid growth that seems to organically occur within this tight knit and supportive community.
The DOC is like this semi-secret world that inspires support and sharing of all things D and beyond, in a way that every person with diabetes could benefit from. I have found it magical and uplifting and all-around inspiring. Bringing people to TuDiabetes feels like sharing that magic.
I am honored to be one of the 30,000 members on TuDiabetes right now. We have all co-created this network. That is so powerful.
Knowing that this community is growing, means I can expect to give and receive more support. It means more friends. It means more laughs and more understanding.
A growing community, to me, means success. It means that fewer and fewer individuals feel alone in their trials and tribulations.
A growing community means that what we are doing is working, it's helping.
So what do you think, friends?
What does the growing of our community mean to you?
To me, TuDiabetes is a home and the members are the foundation. 30,000 represents a really sturdy, diverse base that we have built a safe, nurturing place of learning and support.
What great news! I don't recall exactly how many people were here when I signed up in 2009 but it's been fun to watch and, hopefully, participate in the growth of the community. Like Judith, I've met a couple of people (fellow runners drsoosie and Dane!, Manny and a bunch of Tu folks @ the ADA Scientific conference in Chicago this year, w00t!) IRL and that's been very special too but there are people I haven't had the pleasure to meet in person who, nonetheless, I've known and hung out with for years. Diabetes sucks but having a great family of people with whom to share it makes it a lot better.
1984-2008, when I first discovered the DOC, I met maybe 1/2 dozen other folks w/ diabetes, generally by accident. Now, I have friends I've talked about shared experiences with who live all around the world. The sun never sets on diabetes but it never sets on Tu either! "He to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition..." Henry V
It means we have a product (yes on the internet information is a product) that is well respected, well protected and never neglected. I have been here for some time, and this community gets stronger every day. I am so proud of the time, effort and sweat that has gone into our little corner of the internet, is not so little anymore.
Thank you to all our members. I have learned much from you and as we cross this threshold i knwo i have so much more to learn.
