Think the real world -- New York to California. That is exactly what Gina Capone did to capture the attention of a girl like myself, ransacking search engines for some refreshing diabetic websites. Gina, with her friend Jon, copiloted the launch of DIABETEStalkfest.

Focusing on the forgotten generation, young adults between the ages of 18-35, DIABETEStalkfest is an online community built by people with diabetes for people with diabetes.

Gina, a type 1 diabetic and native New Yorker, and Jon Schlaman, who has a son with type 1 diabetes and lives in California, met on a diabetes message board. Jon and Gina realized there was a shortage of good, fun, diabetes-related sites on the internet. Gina and Jon, formed a lasting friendship and business partnership, communicating only through message boards and IM's.

The inviting thing about DIABETEStalkfest is that you can find real friendships and support. Express yourself at their message board, or connect with other people in their online chat or even catch a live chat with professionals in the field. Join the unscripted fun on DIABETEStalkfest!

When a friend's child is diagnosed with diabetes, I think we all would grapple with exactly how to support them. Our first two instincts -- to deliver a casserole then give them some space -- actually aren't recommended. Instead, here are some great ideas:

• DON'T take over a casserole. It's too hard to verify serving size and carb count. Instead, drop off a low-carb dinner or one clearly marked with nutrition labels. While they've probably been armed with carb counting handbooks, you can also direct them to www.carb-counter.org, a free database listing carb counts for more than 6,000 food and beverage items.
  
• DO offer to help organize the new diabetes medical supplies. You can do this either through clearing out a linen closet or buying your friend a large plastic storage container, binder, dividers, and hole punch for all the information they'll soon be collecting.
  
• DO get your circle of friends together with the parents for an information session. Prepare a sheet and contact names, numbers and instructions for recognizing signs of low blood sugar in your friend's child. A great idea would be to supply each set of parents with sweets like SweetTarts or a can of cake frosting to keep on hand at their homes in case of emergency when your friend's child is playing at their home.
  
• DO consider giving one of the books I listed in this post as a gift for the child and their parents to read together.

More than anything, just provide a compassionate ear. If you're either a parent of a diabetic child or you're a friend of one, what additional tips would you share?