It's All About Being There For Each Other - JDRF Resources
When a loved one is diagnosed with diabetes, it is a traumatic and stressful time. Fear, sadness, anger, and confusion about how to manage the disease can leave families feeling alone and overwhelmed. JDRF offers resources to support you in this overwhelming and stressful time. Through these resources, families and individuals touched by diabetes can get practical advice and emotional support for as long as they need it.
JDRF Illinois can help with:
• Bag of Hope for newly diagnosed families
• Family Mentors
• Online question answering through our Online Diabetes Support Team (ODST)
• Support group and get-together information
• Ways to meet other newly diagnosed families
If you have any other questions, please contact us at (312) 670-0313.
Our Bag of Hope is a package distributed by local hospitals and by our chapter to newly diagnosed families. This bag contains information about diabetes and about our local activities. Please call our chapter office at (312) 670-0313 to receive a Bag of Hope. Please note: due to limited resources, we can only provide Bags of Hope for people diagnosed within the last 3 months.
When someone in need contacts JDRF Illinois looking for help, he or she will be put in touch with a mentor -- someone who has "been there“-- someone who knows how it feels. Mentors are there to provide support about diabetes-related services in the Chicagoland area, to educate the families about what they can do to help find a cure, and just to lend a willing ear and sympathetic heart.
To request a mentor, please call the chapter office at 312-670-0313 or email Christine Potempa cpotempa@jdrf.org.
Would you like to become a mentor to other families? If so, please complete this application (word.doc or PDF) and return it to our office. Thank you!
The JDRF Illinois Online Diabetes Support Team (ODST)
We are a dedicated group of JDRF volunteers who, like you, are living and coping with diabetes every day.
Once you have submitted the form below, one of us will personally respond by email. JDRF and the team recognize your trust and fully respect your privacy. The information you enter will be used only to match your request to an appropriate team member and will be protected and treated confidentially.
Please understand that our team can only share personal experiences with you. We are not healthcare professionals and are unable to provide medical advice. The information provided by our team is not intended to take the place of medical advice, for which you should consult your doctor or other healthcare professionals. (Please read the full terms and conditions of use before continuing.)
We're looking forward to hearing from you.
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Would you like to connect with other young adults dealing with type 1 diabetes? Please join the young adult type 1 google group! This online group is designed for young adults to connect with one another in and around Chicago. This site has information on issues that may affect young adults (preparing for college, alcohol, depression, etc.) as well as an opportunity to get advice from other young adults dealing with diabetes. To join, please visit http://groups.google.com/group/type-1-diabetes-young-adult-group or email type-1-diabetes-young-adult-group@googlegroups.com to be added to the group.
Networking Get-Togethers
Networking Get-Togethers provide support for you and your family and connect you to other people who live with diabetes in your area. The groups are mixed with both parents of newly diagnosed children and parents that have been managing their children's diabetes for years. The get-togethers provide an opportunity for parents to share resources in the area, provide tips on what works for them, and a place to get support from someone who knows what you are going through.
For more information about local support groups, please contact Christine Potempa at cpotempa@jdrf.org.
We are in need of volunteers to host get-togethers in other areas of Illinois. If you are interested in helping us start a new group in your area, please indicate this on the form below, and we will contact you with more details. You can also contact Christine Potempa at 312/423-7198 or at cpotempa@jdrf.org for more information.
Networking Get-Together Areas :
Chicago/Northern Suburbs
West Suburbs
Dixon, Illinois
Peoria
Munster, IN/Southside of Chicago
Southern Illinois
JDRF does not sponsor or endorse any of the resources listed below.
The purpose of the Diabetes Connection is to provide the opportunity for children with diabetes and their families to interact and learn from one another in a fun filled environment. Please visit: www.thediabetesconnection.com for upcoming events and information.
For information on local events sponsored by Medtronic, please visit. http://www.minimed.com/events.
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