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I just read about and checked out an interesting (and valuable) FREE resource for lower literacy diabetes education materials. I read about this in the Diabetes Care and Education dietetic practice group newsletter (NewsFlash) 2010, Have You Seen? column. It's www.learningaboutdiabetes.org.

They offer color, copy-ready handouts in English and Spanish on a number of diabetes topics. In the nutrition area you find all the obvious topics: carbohydrates, the food label, portions, and many more. They're not copyrighted and they're available for FREE.

This resource is being made available as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. It has been developed by Paul Tracey, who has long been developing lower literacy learning materials in the diabetes arena for companies and others. Thanks, Paul!

Check out www.learningaboutdiabetes.org.

Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE

Nutrition Section Editor, www.PRESENTdiabetes.com

I have used these handouts a few times and I also have shared the link. It is a very handy website to have around! Thanks Paul!

What an excellent resource!  I was previously unaware of this and it is really very nice.  There are some significant differences in the literacy levels of some of the materials.  For example, the picture piece for hypoglycemia is great--almost don't need the one or two word descriptors to have non-literate or people who do not speak English or Spanish understand you.  The vision piece does require some literacy, though.  I also really like the handout for patient assistance, getrting to another topic we have discussed.  I think I'll use this piece to give patients who need assistance and then they can contact the appropriate companies directly to complete their forms, etc.