One of the revelations I had here with the Children With Diabetes (CWD) family is that both CWD and the Diabetes Online Community (DOC) want the same thing, and we both have the same problem.
We both want to help people with diabetes, but that’s not exactly what I’m talking about. That’s the obvious part — wanting to help people with diabetes. Specifically what I mean is exposure. Not “exposure” in the way of marketing speak (growing brands and name recognition, etc.). I mean finding ways to give people a taste of the magic.
In the DOC we talk often about reaching those that don’t know about us. We all know how much the DOC has helped us, and we also know that we are a very small portion of those living with diabetes. We talk about ways we can bring the love and support of the DOC to all those who desperately need help living with diabetes, but don’t know we are out here for them.
CWD is also a lifeline for so many. They serve a lot of people through their website, but also have the challenge and privilege to put on a handful of huge conferences. The conferences are life changing events. Life. Changing. But they can’t reach everyone that needs them either (every single person living with type 1 diabetes).
For both of us, some of the challenges are the same. Some are much more complicated. Some might be easy, but we don’t have the right pieces of the puzzle yet, or don’t even know where the puzzle edges are. Some challenges might be impossible, and some might be much easier than we know.
I’m happy that the relationship between the DOC and CWD is constantly growing stronger. It should – they are good folks doing good things, and so are we. We can both find ways to help each other. If you think about it, finding ways to help is a specialty of both groups, right?
We have been given a huge opportunity on two fronts: building content for adults with type 1, and singing praises for the DOC. This is a big deal. I hope that everyone in the DOC recognizes the significance of these first steps, and responds to the CWD family with an abundance of love and support. Like we do.