Friday, 25 March 2011

INFORMATION
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/

FOOD AND RECIPES FOR A BALANCED DIET
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Food_and_recipes/

MY LIFE WITH DIABETES - upload a story
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/My-life/
3 different websites that provide information for different audiences appropriated accordingly (for children in a fun way, for teenagers information about bullying and driving, for young adults with prizes incentive)

INFORMATION FOR CARERS OF PEOPLE WITH DIABETES, FAMILY AND FRIENDS
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Care-homes/

ROADSHOW (http://www.diabetes.org.uk/How_we_help/Roadshow/), EVENTS(http://www.diabetes.org.uk/How_we_help/Care-events/Childrens-holidays/), CARE LINE, ADVOCACY, INSURANCE & FINANCE, COURSES AND AWARENESS TRAININGS, LOCAL SUPPORT GROUPS (http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved/Supporting-each-other/Voluntary-groups/), BALANCE MAGAZINE AND OTHERS, ONLINE SHOP, SCIENCE INFORMATION, MEMBERSHIP, ONLINE COMMUNITY (http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/)
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/How_we_help/

SET YOURSELF A CHALLENGE http://www.diabeteschallenge.org.uk/
TELL YOUR STORY http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Your-stories/

LINKS FOR
FACEBOOK PAGE
TWITER
NEWS ON DIABETES
OTHER SITES WITH RELATED CONTENT
OTHER CHARITIES

GET INVOLVED SECTION

RESEARCH

PROFESSIONALS

ABOUT DIABETES UK

Thursday, 24 March 2011

Saturday, 19 March 2011

I have emailed my biology teacher from high school because she has a lot of knowledge on diseases and I was wondering if she would have any stories (she usually tells stories) that could complement the project in any way. I told her my basic knowledge on the subject and explained the project.

I also gave her an insight on what other people around here think of the illness and asked her her opinions on how much people know about diabetes and what people understand of it. Is it enough or the major problem is the lack of information?

Who does she think is at risk the most?

Any specific audience?

Friday, 18 March 2011

DIABETES UK ANIMATION EXPLANATION

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Introduction-to-diabetes/What_is_diabetes/Diabetes-and-the-body/

This animation explains both types of diabetes. Type 1 and type 2 as well as the symptoms and age groups definitions.

In my opinion it is much more practical to have an animation which explains all the basics in 4 min rather than having to read all section divided content of exactly the same information.

THE SYMPTOMS

Symptoms occur because some or all of the glucose stays in the blood and it isn’t being used as fuel for energy. The body tries to reduce blood glucose levels by flushing the excess glucose out of the body in the urine.

The main symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes can include:

passing urine more often than usual, especially at night
increased thirst
extreme tiredness
unexplained weight loss
genital itching or regular episodes of thrush
slow healing of cuts and wounds
blurred vision

In Type 1 diabetes the signs and symptoms are usually very obvious and develop very quickly, typically over a few weeks. The symptoms are quickly relieved once the diabetes is treated and under control.

In Type 2 diabetes the signs and symptoms may not be so obvious, as the condition develops slowly over a period of years and may only be picked up in a routine medical check up. Symptoms are quickly relieved once diabetes is treated and under control.

DIABETES TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2

What is Type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes develops when the insulin-producing cells in the body have been destroyed and the body is unable to produce any insulin.

Insulin is the key that unlocks the door to the body’s cells. Once the door is unlocked glucose can enter the cells where it is used as fuel. In Type 1 diabetes the body is unable to produce any insulin so there is no key to unlock the door and the glucose builds up in the blood.

Nobody knows for sure why these insulin-producing cells have been destroyed but the most likely cause is the body having an abnormal reaction to the cells. This may be triggered by a virus or other infection. Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age but usually appears before the age of 40, and especially in childhood.

Type 1 diabetes accounts for between 5 and 15 per cent of all people with diabetes and is treated by daily insulin injections, a healthy diet and regular physical activity.

What is Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance).

Insulin acts as a key unlocking the cells, so if there is not enough insulin, or it is not working properly, the cells are only partially unlocked (or not at all) and glucose builds up in the blood.

Type 2 diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40, though in South Asian and black people, who are at greater risk, it often appears from the age of 25. It is also increasingly becoming more common in children, adolescents and young people of all ethnicities.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for between 85 and 95 per cent of all people with diabetes and is treated with a healthy diet and increased physical activity. In addition to this, medication and/or insulin is often required.

WHAT IS DIABETES?

Diabetes is a common life-long health condition. There are 2.8 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK and an estimated 850,000 people who have the condition but don’t know it.

Diabetes is a condition where the amount of glucose in your blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. This is because your pancreas does not produce any insulin, or not enough, to help glucose enter your body’s cells – or the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance).

Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreas that allows glucose to enter the body’s cells, where it is used as fuel for energy so we can work, play and generally live our lives. It is vital for life.

Glucose comes from digesting carbohydrate and is also produced by the liver. Carbohydrate comes from many different kinds of foods and drink, including starchy foods such as bread, potatoes and chapatis; fruit; some dairy products; sugar and other sweet foods.

If you have diabetes, your body cannot make proper use of this glucose so it builds up in the blood and isn’t able to be used as fuel.

Thursday, 17 March 2011

DIABETES UK PROJECT INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

As I am requested to improve the online promotion of Diabetes UK I intend to improve my knowledge in two main areas in order to chose an audience, since the audience has not been determined by the client.

w/c > March 17^th

– Find out more information on diabetes itself – books listed on the brief, as well as websites and email my biology teacher

w/c> March 24^th

Gather as much research on 4 areas>

1- Diabetes UK – What do I know about them, services, events, gaps, key opportunities, fundraising document, colour scheme

2-Visual Inspiration – Other charity campaigns, sketches, corporate campaigns

3-Audience – What do you know about them, what do they know about diabetes, what do they know about Diabetes UK, what do I want them to think, feel, do and finally narrow down who they might be.

4-Online/ Digital trends – visual examples, opportunities, insights

After this, it is time to start sketching some ideas – consider occupations, types of people that could be at risk.

w/c > March 31^st

-Idea refinement

-Diabetes London Roadshow – Pekham Library (April 5^th)

-Contact diabetic people and what they think it could be done to help Diabetes UK raise more money for research

-email professionals related to the idea generated in order to find out if it would be something to be consider, also if diabetes is something the company takes into consideration as a serious issue; is there any program, any benefits for staff, which charities do they support if any

w/c > April 7^th

- Idea refinement – specific, insights, visual representations, media

w/c > April 14^th

- Experimentation – Programs, After Effects (little animation), Photoshop, Illustrator (visual example of media chosen)

w/c > April 21^st

- Experimentation/ refinement of visuals

w/c > April 28^th

- Project ready for feedback from Sian

w/c > May 5^th

- Project refinement based on Sian’s feedback

w/c > May 12^th

- Project hand-in

BRIEF

London College of Communication

Faculty of Design

Graphic and Media Design/ BA (Honours)

2010 – 2011

______________________________________________________

Pathway Design for Advertising: Application 2

Year Two

Term Two/Three

Project Tutors Sian Cook/ Grant Rose

Brief Date March/ 17/ Thursday

Deadline May/ 12/ Thursday

Project Number 2.5

Project Title Diabetes UK

Brief For this project you are required to propose an improvement on Diabetes UK online promotion for the purposes of fundraising.

Considerations - Future formats for advertising and branding messages. How is the industry developing? What new media can offer?

- How can the college help?

- What is Diabetes UK’s problem?

- What audience are they targeting?

- Who they are

- What reaction do we want?

- What do you want them to do?

- What are the possible lines of communication?

Must Have - Engage rather than communicate

- Get people to donate money to the charity

- Explore the online media

- Strong visual and call to action

Can Have - Flexible final piece as long as it engages

- Flexible audience as the online public is huge

Background

Information - Diabetes UK was founded in 1934 and it is one of the largest UK organizations for diabetes fundraising

- Mission is to improve the lives of people with diabetes and to work for a future without diabetes

- There are 150,000 members (people with diabetes, staff, carers, family and friends)

- 6 Million investment in research in 2010

- Logo means Balance and Control – vital for people with diabetes who have to regulate their blood glucose levels

- Diabetes UK Careline – 100 enquiries a day

- What do they already do: ‘Balance’ and other magazines, books and leaflets

- Care support events, conferences, road shows, children’s holidays, advocacy, insurance & finance, Training & awareness courses, online shop, science information, membership, support members area, research, web information

- 2.8 Million people in UK diagnosed

Digital Fundraising - Media – 21 Thousand Facebook user

- 8400 Twitter

- Youtube channel

Key text - DFA Blackboard site

- Bayley, Stephen & Mavity, Roger (2007) Life’s A Pitch: how to be businesslike with your emotional life and emotional with your business life. Bentam Press [158.1 BAY]

- Murray, Will (2001) Hey you! Pitch to win in an ideas economy. Pearson Education Ltd [153.2 MUR]

- Pink, Daniel H. (2006) A Whole New Mind; how to thrive in the new conceptual age. Cyan. [158.1 PIN]

- Simmons, John (2000) We, Me, Them & It: The Power of Words in Business, Texere [658.45 SIM]

- Buckman, Dr. Robert & McLaughlin, Chris (2006) What you really need to know about living with diabetes. Quantum Publishing Ltd.

- Barnes, Darryl E. (2004) Action Plan For Diabetes; your guide to controlling blood sugar. Human Kinetic.

- Diabetes UK site

- Diabetes Challenge site