Newswise — April 25, 2023, Morristown, NJ — The BD Diabetes Center at Atlantic Health System’s Goryeb Children’s Hospital and JDRF, the leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization, have partnered to distribute an educational video series for youth with type 1 diabetes. The three-part series, comprised of five-minute videos, focuses on helping teens and young adults with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes surmount some of the emotional challenges that often come with this chronic health condition.

The series titled, “It’s Not the End of the World – Living with New Type 1 Diabetes,” provides helpful psychosocial support material to adolescent patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and their families. The series normalizes common feelings and provides support during the early days and weeks after diabetes diagnosis. This contrasts with the many previously available educational materials, which primarily focus on the practical “nuts and bolts” of diabetes therapy.

“We often see newly diagnosed adolescents deal with the stresses and related issues that type 1 diabetes brings,” said Harold Starkman, MD, pediatric endocrinologist, and Director Emeritus of the BD Diabetes Center at Atlantic Health System’s Goryeb Children’s Hospital. “We are proud to offer these educational videos, at no cost, as an important part of the work we do to ensure that all kids with diabetes and their families have essential resources to navigate this often-challenging journey.”

The first video in the “It’s Not the End of the World – Living with New Type 1 Diabetes” series, discusses common feelings when diabetes is first diagnosed and shares advice on how to deal with them. The second video focuses on going home with diabetes and how this may affect the whole family. The third video shares important information about returning to school and telling friends about diabetes. It also emphasizes that diabetes will not limit sports and other extra-curricular activities.

Dr. Starkman and the BD Team have a strong interest in improving psychosocial support for youth with type 1 diabetes. “Diabetes often arrives as an uninvited, overwhelming and demanding new family member. We are trying to ease this transition,” Dr Starkman continued.

“A new type 1 diabetes diagnosis in a young person’s life is an extra layer of stress during a time that is inherently filled with change and transition”, said Kristin Horowitz, director of community engagement at JDRF. “This new video series will help teens and young adults to establish a new normal by addressing the psychosocial factors that are so important to long term health and successful diabetes management.”

Eight adolescent patients, who freely share their experiences and personal journeys with type 1 diabetes are featured throughout the series. The videos are available on Atlantic Health System’s YouTube page, as well as on JDRF’s Website, and will soon be available as part of JDRF’s Newly Diagnosed communication series which will be distributed nationwide.

Production support for “It’s Not the End of the World” comes from the BD Diabetes Center at Goryeb Children’s Hospital, Calling All Kids and The Women’s Association of Morristown Medical Center. Creative guidance and vision was spearheaded by The Studio-NYC. Additional production support was provided by the JDRF and Camp Nejeda. This project was underwritten by BD and the generosity of individual donors.

The BD Diabetes Center at Goryeb Children’s Hospital is certified by the American Diabetes Association and is nationally recognized for the development of innovative educational and support programs for both families and health care professionals.

About Atlantic Health System Atlantic Health System is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of more than 19,000 team members and 4,800 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health System serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 12 counties and 6.2 million people. The not-for-profit system offers more than 400 sites of care, including its seven hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ, Goryeb Children’s

Hospital in Morristown, NJ, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ and through its partnership with CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold, NJ.

Atlantic Medical Group, comprised of 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers, represents one of the largest multi-specialty practices in New Jersey and joins Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners as part of Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network of more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ.

Atlantic Health System provides care for the full continuum of health care needs through 23 urgent care centers, Atlantic Visiting Nurse and Atlantic Anywhere Virtual Visits. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.

Atlantic Health System leads the Healthcare Transformation Consortium, a partnership of six regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability and is a founding member of the PIER Consortium – Partners in Innovation, Education, and Research – a streamlined clinical trial system that will expand access to groundbreaking research across five health systems in the region.

Atlantic Health System has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University and is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook.

About JDRF JDRF’s mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2.5 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people

connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally and globally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a global stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout the United States and our five international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement, and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.org or follow us on Twitter (@JDRF), Facebook (@myjdrf), and Instagram (@jdrfhq).

About Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)

T1D is an autoimmune condition that causes the pancreas to make very little insulin or none at all. This leads to dependence on insulin therapy and the risk of short or long-term complications, which can include highs and lows in blood sugar; damage to the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and heart; and even death if left untreated. Globally, it impacts nearly 9 million people. Many believe T1D is only diagnosed in childhood and adolescence, but diagnosis in adulthood is common and accounts for nearly 50% of all T1D diagnoses. The onset of T1D has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. There is currently no cure for T1D.

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