Secondary Research

Charity Website

I looked at many different charity websites to find out if there was a theme that they all shared. One theme that I did find that reoccured on all of the different websites was that they used a grid format on their homepage to show all of the different parts of the websites. The different blocks in the grid each had there own photos and this made the homepage look a bit more busy and eye catching. It is also a very effective way of showing the user what the topic is about and what it consists of. Charity's are usually about something that isn't really very happy and cheery but for the main image on the homepage they feature someone smiling and talk about the good things that have come from the charity. I think this is something I will incorporate in my homepage because it seem like it could attract more users.

Every single website had a donate button, some had the button small so it would fit in with the website, others had the button a bigger size or had it on the page numerous times. I think it is down to the how the website looks, if you were to have numerous buttons on a website that is more type based it would look a bit out of place. I think when I design my website I will decide how many buttons I will feature on my homepage. As I mentioned earlier every website had a donate button, this was places on the header meaning that I would be on every single page.

Social Media is a big thing for all charity's because it allows them to reach out to there audience. This was no different when it came to the websites I looked at, some websites featured some of their most recent tweets and posts on their homepage to show their users what they are talking about. The users may decide to follow them because they are interested in what the charity is tweeting / posting about from looking at the preview.


Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is caused by a fault in the body's immune response in which the immune system mistakenly targets and kills beta cells, these cells that are located in the pancreas are responsible for producing insulin.

As the more beta cells are killed off the body begins to lose control of its blood glucose levels and the symptoms of diabetes begin to appear. 

“One of the most difficult things I found that I had to come to terms with when you are newly diagnosed is that diabetes is for life.”

The cause for the fault in the immune system is yet to be discovered, however research has shown that it can be a combination of genetic predisposition with an environmental trigger.

Type 1 can develop very quickly within children and young adults, you are more likely to be diagnosed when you are in this age range. "Only about 10% of all diabetes is type 1 however the number is ever so slightly increasing."

Living with diabetes

Looking after your general and diabetic health is very important, doing this will not only keep you in a optimum health state but it will also make treating diabetes easier and minimize your risk of developing complications.

Eating healthy, having a balanced diet and exercising regularly are all things that can be very beneficial to a person living with type 1. Doing these things will lower your blood glucose level, which is a massive bonus as it decreases your need for insulin. 

With diabetes comes a very big chance of the person developing diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can lead to sight loss if not treated. "If you are 12 or above you should be invited to have your eyes screened once a year."

"Most people will have to take insulin by injection with insulin pens - it uses cartridges that have to be replaced to give your body the insulin it needs. They are very easy to use and are given to people who are young diabetics because they can be used in schools and colleges at ease. On top of all of this the needle is almost painless and is portable and discreet."

The alternative is an insulin pump, you have to fit the eligibility criteria to be able to access one. You have to be educated on how to balance insulin doses with dietary intake and physical activity and how to use blood glucose testing to help control your diabetes.

Learning about Diabetes

When you first get diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, it is very important to spend the first few days learning about ways of controlling and taking note of your diabetes as well as creating a plan for yourself that you are going to stick to. This includes learning about foods so you can figure out the best types to eat in certain situations. A school/work plan is useful so you can make sure that you are prepared and know how to lay your day out around work and physical exertion. Most significantly, you will be dealing with the new emotions that you may be beginning to develop due to all of the drastic changes that Type 1 Diabetes has enforced on your lifestyle.

"One-week follow up, teaching should be done by a dietitian and nurse and a clinic visit with the physician. Here you will learn a whole lot more about food management, insulin actions and regimens along with identifying patterns in blood sugar and knowing when to contact someone if things aren't looking so good."