Social media 'can support diabetics'

Social media applications such as Facebook can play a major role in supporting the thousands of people who suffer from diabetes in the UK, it has been claimed.

Amanda Neylon, digital media manager at Diabetes UK, the largest organisation in the UK working for people with diabetes, funding research, campaigning and helping people live with the condition, said that online diabetes communities are growing and helping to raise awareness and provide support.

"We definitely believe that online communities are a great way to provide support and camaraderie. Obviously there is still a need for traditional face to face support from both healthcare professionals and peers and our work with PCTs and our local support groups continue to provide that," she said.

The expert added that online tools have "opened up another way" to get valuable interaction, as they enable responsive feedback, take away location issues and give people the confidence to be "honest and open", which many find difficult in a face to face situation.

Her comments followed a study by Princeton Survey Research Associates, which noted that having a chronic disease significantly increases an internet user's likelihood to say they work on a blog or contribute to an online discussion or other online group forum that helps people with personal issues or health problems.

Ms Neylon commented: "Many people on our Facebook page say how lovely it is they can share what they are going through with others in the same position and it makes them feel far less alone."

Posted by Louise Jones

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