D.A.I.L.Y. Education Platform Engages Patients and Loved Ones Through Individualized Online Courses
Insights from Dr. Sean Vasaitis on what makes D.A.I.L.Y. unique.
The Hormone Health Network, the public education arm of The Endocrine Society, recently launched a new program geared at supporting people with type 2 diabetes and their loved ones: Diabetes Awareness Information for Loved Ones and You, or “D.A.I.L.Y.” for short. The online platform hopes to provide patients and their loved ones personalized tools to help them become more engaged in their diabetes management and spread awareness about how diabetes impacts people of all backgrounds. With more limited options for the type 2 community online, this course hopes to provide a space for education and engagement and is open to anyone interested in joining, and can sign-up for free at www.dailydiabetes.org to get started!
We spoke to D.A.I.L.Y. expert Dr. T. Sean Vasaitis, whose family history with type 2 diabetes has made him personally invested in addressing this epidemic, to learn more about what makes the program unique. His takeaway message?
“All people with diabetes should know that you can take control over diabetes…it’s something that can be hopeful. There are a lot of resources available, and there’s a lot you can do individually to help you manage it so you can live a long, healthy life. Part of that is reaching out, being active, and doing your part in the process so you can get the most benefit out of it. D.A.I.L.Y. is a great tool to help people accomplish their goals. You can get information that’s going to be highly relevant on an individual level, and which will also increase your exposure to information about diabetes in general to help you manage your condition.”
Read more below for our FAQ on D.A.I.L.Y.!
Why was D.A.I.L.Y. created, and what makes it unique?
According to Dr. Vasaitis, “One of the major things about D.A.I.L.Y. is that it’s an interactive platform specifically for the type 2 diabetes patient and their loved ones. It’s going to help guide participants through a wealth of resources. There’s a lot of information out there, so the Hormone Health Network wants to bring reliable, trustworthy information and have it accessible in a way that allows people to navigate their own self-management. We want to help people take control and get support.”
What does the program look like?
New users begin the program by answering a series of questions about their own diabetes background (Are you a provider, patient, or loved one? When were you diagnosed? What is your reason for registering? Do you have an understanding of what is involved in managing diabetes?). The questions are then used to guide participants to the most relevant materials for their personalized D.A.I.L.Y. program.
The platform is broken down into different course topics, including:
- Healthy Behaviors
- Type 2 Diabetes Myths
- Type 2 Diabetes Treatments
- Healthy Eating & BMI Calculator
- Physical Activity and Exercise
The various courses include a mix of fact sheets, interactive questions (“You get type 2 diabetes by eating excessive amounts of junk food over time, true or false?”), videos, case studies, and more. Users can share their progress through their coursework with loved ones and healthcare providers, and are encouraged to invite friends or family members to join the program.
According to Dr. Vasaitis, D.A.I.L.Y. is looking to create an online community to foster peer-to-peer support among patient users, and also to connect people with type 2 diabetes and their loved ones with healthcare professionals and endocrinologists specifically. As Dr. Vasaitis told us, the team at D.A.I.L.Y. wants to replicate the success of online communities in type 1 diabetes and strengthen the online support for those touched by type 2 diabetes.
