Your Diabetes 411 Page: Connecting to Resources and Support for Adults with Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy

Updated 9/22

Deciding Where to Get Diabetes Education

Before you decide where to get diabetes education:

Ask your doctor if he or she knows of a diabetes educator or education program nearby.
Ask friends who have diabetes if they have received diabetes education they found useful.
Call major clinics or hospitals in your area to ask if they have a diabetes education program. Many do.
When you make an appointment to see a diabetes educator, tell the person who schedules the appointment that you have visual impairment. Ask ahead of time to receive all print materials that are normally given to sighted people in a format that is accessible to you.

The following websites have search features to help you find diabetes education programs or individual diabetes educators near you:

Diabetes Self-Management: offers nutritional information, information about research, basic information about types of diabetes, and information in Spanish.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: The nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Provides Nutrition Fact Sheets, a Diabetes Reading List, and Nutrition Information.
DiabetesNet: Provides information on various diabetes-related topics, including Carb Counting, Cookbooks, Diabetes Types and Nutrition.
Diabetes Research Institute Foundation: Focusses on clinical trials and research.
Diabetes Daily: Gives a wealth of information about diabetes and its treatment.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases | National Eye Institute (nih.gov): Clearinghouse provides information about diabetes to people with diabetes and their families, healthcare professionals, and the public. They answer inquiries, develop and distribute publications, and work closely with professional and patient organizations and government agencies to coordinate resources about diabetes.
National Diabetes Prevention Program | Diabetes | CDC

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) has braille and recorded reading materials available for anyone who cannot read regular print because of visual, physical, or learning disabilities. Playback equipment is also provided on loan, free of charge. This program is available through a network of regional libraries for any resident of the United States who needs it. For more information about registering for the program and available books, visit http://www.loc.gov/nls/.
NFB Newsline is another helpful service available to anyone who cannot read newspapers due to blindness or a physical disability. By calling the toll-free number, 866-504-7300, and selecting a touch-tone phone, subscribers can hear the current contents of numerous newspapers and magazines.