College Diabetes Network and the American Diabetes Association team up to better support young adults with diabetes

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Apr 20, 2015, 11:11 ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va. and BOSTON, April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The College Diabetes Network (CDN) and the American Diabetes Association (Association) are delighted to announce an initial collaboration to promote better understanding and support of the unique needs of young adults with diabetes.

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To launch these collaborative efforts, the Association is pleased to have reviewed and approved the content of CDN's Organizing an "Off to College" Event: A How-to Guide, and encourages all clinical providers and local organizations to visit the CDN website to order their own FREE copy of the guide and its resources, aimed at increasing the number of these types of events held across the country. This guide was supported by a grant from Lilly to CDN.

Various clinics and organizations have held "Off to College" events for years, but often face many barriers to hosting such events. CDN has identified these transition events as being a key point of contact for this population, as young adults and their families begin to think about and prepare for college, and the independence that comes with it. The goal of these materials is to increase the quality, and number of, events being held throughout the country.

"We feel that CDN has filled a gap and provided much-needed resources and support for students," said Jane Chiang, MD, Senior Vice President, Medical and Community Affairs, American Diabetes Association. "The College Diabetes Network's Organizing an Off to College Event transition guide is the perfect example of a tool that can help to reach these young adults with support they need to make the best decisions possible about their health. The Association is excited to have the opportunity to support this tool."

The launch of this collaborative initiative marks an important step toward CDN's goal of better connecting, engaging, and empowering young adults with diabetes. CDN was founded on the belief that self-empowerment and peer support are the most effective ways to support this population. CDN is dedicated to creating a community of young adults with diabetes, and providing them with the information and resources necessary to thrive in all of their personal, health care, and scholastic accomplishments.

"The American Diabetes Association is the national giant of diabetes, and their support of this program will allow us to reach a much larger number of young adults with diabetes and their families," said Christina Roth, CEO and Founder of the College Diabetes Network. "Collaboration has always been a guiding principle of CDN, and we look forward to the impact both we and the Association can have by leveraging each of our strengths."

To learn more about the Organizing an "Off to College" Event: A How-To Guide, or to order your own free copy of the Guide, visit https://collegediabetesnetwork.org/content/college-materials-and-events.

About the American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. For the past 75 years, our mission has been to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

About the College Diabetes Network

The College Diabetes Network (CDN) is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to empower and improve the lives of students living with Type 1 diabetes through peer support and access to information and resources. Through CDN, college students affected by diabetes are assisted in creating and running on-campus support networks, as well as provided access to information on how to live successfully with diabetes while at college. For more information about CDN, visit www.collegediabetesnetwork.org. CDN represents the voice of young adults with diabetes, working with college health centers, pediatric and adult endocrinologists, and parents to better support young adults in all aspects of their lives.

Originally founded by a college student in 2009, CDN addresses the unique challenges facing young adults with diabetes, from finding and connecting with peers, to a hub of resources to help them thrive on campus. Through CDN's fast growth and innovative programming, it has emerged as a leader in supporting this underserved niche of the Type 1 population.

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SOURCE American Diabetes Association