TuDiabetes.com - Resources & forums for people with diabetes
TuDiabetes.com [1] is an online community for people touched by diabetes. Launched in March 2007, TuDiabetes.com was at first directed only to Hispanics with diabetes but quickly found a following from all over the world. TuDiabetes.com was founded by Web Product Manager and Internet Marketer, Manny Hernandez [2], who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in late 2002.
As of September 2007, TuDiabetes.com is considered one of the fastest growing online communities for people with diabetes with over 800 registered users.
TuDiabetes.com doesn't have official headquarters or employees. The site is managed directly by Manny and a few volunteers. Manny's wife, designer and artist Andreina Davila [3], is responsible for the site's design and logo. Among the volunteers is Luis Garcia [4], an executive specialized in business and product development for digital media who serves as a Strategic Advisor.
TuDiabetes.com also maintains a presence in MySpace [5] and an active group in Facebook [6]. Additionally, it has a YouTube channel [7] and a Video Blog [8].
Name
The name of the site is a wordplay meaning "Your Diabetes" in Spanish. Also "Tu" in Spanish has a sound similar to "Too" in English, implying "you too have diabetes" because everybody is affected by diabetes directly or indirectly.
Logo
People with diabetes need to constantly test their levels of glucose for which they poke their fingers to obtain small drops of blood that are then run through a Blood Glucose Meter.
The TuDiabetes.com logo is an artistic interpretation of this process, featuring hands with small drops of blood.
Features
Members of TuDiabetes.com create a profile with their picture and general details about them. They have their own blog and they can post photos and videos to share. They can also customize their profile to fit their personality using a variety of templates.
Each member also has a "Comment Wall" where other members can post short messages directly on the user's profile.
Members can connect with other members of the community by adding them to their Friends' list. Members are also allowed to create their own groups and invite other members to join them.
Members
Even though the name suggests that all members have diabetes, the community also has a strong base of caregivers and parents of children with diabetes.
The predominant language used in the community is English, although there are sections of the site in Spanish.
TuDiabetes.com members come from all over the world including: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, Argentina, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.
Groups
There are regional groups to help members from the same geographical area to connect. Besides these, there are interest groups. Among the most popular interest groups are: "Parents of kids with Type 1", "Athletic Diabetics", "Christian Diabetics", "SugarStats.com Users", "Geeks With Diabetes" and "unite for diabetes".
Technology
TuDiabetes.com runs on Ning.com, an online platform for creating social websites and social networks co-founded by Marc Andreessen and Gina Bianchini.
External Links
- TuDiabetes.com
- TuDiabetes.com in MySpace
- TuDiabetes.com group in Facebook
- TuDiabetes.com YouTube channel
- TuDiabetes.com Video Blog
- TuDiabetes.com Group in Flickr
- TuDiabetes.com Online Store
- Manny Hernandez Blog: Ask Manny Hernandez
- Andreina Davila's Page
- Luis Garcia's LinkedIn Page
