TeenCope Online(Apr 2008) 
Type 1 diabetes can be challenging for teenagers to manage. They need to test their blood sugar, take insulin with a pump or with injections, and monitor their insulin dose based on what they eat and how active they are. This requires attention at home, school, and when out with friends - which is not always easy. To address this issue, a new study is underway at YSN examining the effectiveness of an internet coping skills training program (TeenCope) compared to an internet education program for teenagers with type 1 diabetes.
Dean Margaret Grey and Associate Professor Robin Whittemore serve as the principal investigators on this groundbreaking study to improve diabetes management, metabolic control, and quality of life in adolescents with diabetes. Named "TeenCope," this grant was awarded from the National Institute of Nursing Research (NIH).
"The better we can keep their disease under control the more likely these children will have a longer life and a healthier adulthood," commented Dean Grey.
Rapid advancements in technology and access to the internet have made it a viable tool for the delivery of coping skills training, a group-based intervention developed at Yale by Dean Grey and extensively tested.
"Teens with type 1 diabetes are often the only student in their school with diabetes and they feel different at a time when they want to be accepted by friends," stated Professor Whittemore. "The goal of this program is to help teens learn how to manage their diabetes within the context of challenging social situations and to provide a forum for teens with type 1 diabetes to learn from each other."
Using eye-catching animations and graphics, TeenCope invites adolescent users in a fun and creative way to see virtual teenagers deal with common situations. They also have the opportunity to connect with other teens in the study thru a discussion board and take part in polls and interactive learning sessions.
"By using Internet-based coping skills training, adolescents are much more likely to get online on their own time than go to a clinic for a meeting," Dean Grey continued. "We have found that 40 - 50% of kids could not meet with a group due to their activities. Now we are able to connect with them on their own time, and we now reach 90% of the eligible children."
"We want to see teens healthy, both physically and emotionally," added Professor Whittemore.
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