User:Jhrastafari/Diabetes.co.uk
| Type of business | Private |
|---|---|
Type of site | Social networking, Internet forum |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Key people | Arjun Panesar Davinder Panesar Prit Panesar Barry Summers Charlotte Summers |
| URL | Diabetes.co.uk |
| Launched | April 1, 2001 |
| Current status | Active |
Diabetes.co.uk is a British-based brand and digital communication channel publishing news and information on diabetes, newsletters, cookbooks and providing a patient network that improves the health of people with diabetes, known as the Diabetes Forum[1]. In the Diabetes Forum, people connect with others who have diabetes and track and share their own experiences in relation to diabetes and its associated complications. Through this, users generate data about the real-world nature of diabetes that helps other people with diabetes, researchers, pharmaceutical companies and non-profit organisations develop more effective products, services and care.
History
[edit]Diabetes.co.uk was founded in 2001 by Davinder Panesar and Prit Panesar, inspired by the diagnosis of a close family member with Type 2 Diabetes who suffered a hypoglycemic attack in their presence. Realising that they had no understanding of what they had witnessed, they realised that patients with diabetes, friends and carers around the world must have similar questions about diabetes and its implications. The aim of Diabetes.co.uk is for people to find support, ask questions and share experiences.[2]
Growth
[edit]Diabetes.co.uk launched the Diabetes Forum in 2004. The forum provides separate areas for people with Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, prediabetes, gestational diabetes and parents of children with diabetes. The Diabetes.co.uk Forum is Europe's largest diabetes forum.[3] Diabetes.co.uk's Facebook page has been recognised as a "perfect example of a successful social media"[4].
Products and services
[edit]Publishing
[edit]Diabetes.co.uk publishes news and information on diabetes and related industries daily.
Diabetes.co.uk publishes annual cookbooks. Cookbooks are available to download for free.
Books
[edit]Diabetes.co.uk first book, Reverse Your Diabetes: The Step-by-Step Plan to Take Control of Type 2 Diabetes is written by Dr David Cavan, Director of Policy and Programmes at the IDF and published by Random House. It is due to be released on June 5, 2014.[5]
Clinical trials
[edit]Diabetes.co.uk publicises clinical trials and recruits patients for researchers and pharmaceutical organisations.[6]
Diabetes Shop
[edit]Diabetes.co.uk operates a shop selling diabetes related goods.
Diabetes Forum
[edit]There are currently 92,000 members of the Diabetes Forum. The Diabetes Forum is the UK's largest diabetes forum and operates a XenForo forum software package. An app for the Diabetes Forum is also available on iOS and Android.[7] A survey of 1,000 members in November 2013 questioned members on whether the Diabetes Forum assisted in their day-to-day diabetes management. According to the survey, 47% of respondents felt more in control of their diabetes as a result of using the Diabetes Forum, rating themselves as agreeing or strongly agreeing they feel in control of their diabetes.[8] Use of the Diabetes Forum was cited as the cause of 73% of forum members having an improved understanding of diabetes, 44% of forum members having improved their blood glucose control, 35% of forum members having reduced their HbA1c, 55% of forum members having improved their diet choices and 48% of forum members stating that the use of the Diabetes Forum had increased their confidence in managing their diabetes.[9][8]
The Diabetes Forum was recognised in 2013 and commended by the Quality in Care (QiC) Programmes for improving self-management and diabetes care through social interaction.[3]
Type 2 Testing Program
[edit]The Type 2 Testing Program gives individuals with non insulin-dependent Type 2 Diabetes access to test strips, a blood glucose meter and a structured testing plan by subscription for self-monitoring and understanding how everyday factors such as diet, exercise, and illness can affect blood glucose levels.[10] The program is substantiated by studies have shown regular structured blood glucose testing can help people with Type 2 Diabetes who are not treated with insulin to better understand their condition, improve their long-term blood glucose control and reduce their HbA1c.
Corporate affairs and culture
[edit]Core values
[edit]The company describes its primary aim as improving the physical, psychological and mental health of our visitors four core values to help achieve its primary goal of reducing suffering in the diabetes community:[2]
- Community first - Honouring and respecting the patients who use the site, its services and share health information.
- What's best for the community is best for us - This is the concept that the community is at the heart of the business and therefore the community's best interests should be preserved over anything else.
- Transparent - The company believes that patients should be aware of how their data is used.
- "Nice!" - This is the desired response the company seek to achieve when patients use any of the company's websites or apps.
Business model
[edit]Describing itself as a "private company with an established 'community-profit' culture (the diabetes community's interests at heart)" Diabetes.co.uk's business model focuses on recruiting for clinical trials and advertising.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ Diabetes.co.uk profile
- ^ a b c About Diabetes.co.uk
- ^ a b QiC: Best initiative supporting self-care
- ^ Can the Internet and Social Media Help the Development of Healthcare?
- ^ Cavan, David. Reverse Your Diabetes: The Step-by-Step Plan to Take Control of Type 2 Diabetes.
- ^ About clinical trial recruitment
- ^ Diabetes Forum App
- ^ a b Diabetes Forum membership boosts diabetes control confidence
- ^ What's the benefit of a global diabetes community?
- ^ Diabetes.co.uk launches Type 2 Testing Program