- dlife.com/diabetes/blood_sugar_management/testing/the_life_of_a_needle
- dlife.com/diabetes/information/inspiration_expert_advice/expert_columns/Wil_Dubois/meter.html
- dlife.com/diabetes/lifestyle/diabetes-children/back_to_school_resources/autonomic
- dlife.com/diabetes/blood_sugar_management/wil_dubois/types_of_diabetes
Provide names of other journalists involved.
n/a
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
06/08/11 08/15/11 10/12/11 11/02/11
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
So my “beat” is diabetes, and my assignment is to look at various aspects of diabetes care ranging from the day-to-day mechanics, to difficult medical concepts, to the mind-set and culture of diabetes patients–and provide education in a fun and funky way. It’s technically a monthly column, but I view it as beat reporting and it does require significant mastery of my subject area, as indicated in the rules for this category. The four samples look at issues around sharps (i.e. needles and lancets), blood glucose meters, tips for young persons with diabetes going off to college for the first time, and the divide between the two major types of diabetes patients.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Internet research from a variety of sources as needed.
Explain types of human sources used.
Real life experience and clinical contact with persons with diabetes.
Results:
n/a
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
When the website is updated or minor typos are corrected, a newer “last modified” date is sometimes shown. None of the columns have been corrected in anyway.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
If you make it fun, people will read it. My goal is always to educate people without them realizing I’m doing it. Thinking outside the box…. waaaaaaaay outside the box is the real key!