I was very sad when TuDiabetes forum closed (still don’t know why) as they basically saved my life…the many forum members who gave me feedback and real world assistance. I was advised to come over to FuDiabetes, and did but have noticed that there is not the variety of responders on Fu as the same people (with good guidance) are responding over and over. I printed out the comments from Tu D people and there were many more names. I don’t see many of those names on Fu. Anyone care to comment?
I’m sure there are those who were sad when TuDiabetes shut down. Personally, I wasn’t. Toward the end (before the group of the co-founders of FUD broke off from TuD nearly a decade ago), it had become a very different place than what many of us originally valued. A lot of us left because we were tired of heavy-handed moderation, selective enforcement, and an atmosphere where some voices seemed more welcome than others.
As for why TuD ultimately went away, my understanding is that the community leadership felt they needed to move forward in a more segregated way by separating and isolating T1 and T2 communities from one another. FUD has never believed in that approach. Diabetes may present differently from person to person, but there is still tremendous value in people learning from each other’s experiences, perspectives, struggles, and successes regardless of label.
That said, I do recognize that TuD helped many people over the years, and for some it was an important source of support and information. We can respect that reality while also acknowledging that not everyone had the same experience there.
At the same time, we really can’t control what happened with TuD or who decides to migrate over to FUD. The people who wanted to come here have, and others may still come over in time. Every community develops its own culture, and FUD has always operated differently - our goal is to support and enable others to “live UNLIMITED lives” despite the diagnosis.
One of the things many of us value here is that the community is built around the idea that everyone deserves to be heard and treated with respect. We don’t believe in acting like moderators or co-founders have all the answers, because they don’t. None of us do. We’re all learning from each other as a collective of people living with diabetes, caring for someone with diabetes, or simply trying to better understand it.
Because of that, you’ll naturally see some members posting more often than others depending on life circumstances, burnout, family obligations, interests, or how active they feel at a given time. That’s been true here for many years. Some people step away and later come back. Others mostly read without posting much. But the core idea remains the same: if someone has experience or insight that may help another person, they try to share it.
FUD isn’t TuD. It’s its own community with its own personality and approach. The people who want to be here, help others, and receive support themselves are here — and we’re glad they are.
FUD = “For Unlimited Diabetics”
5 Likes
We invited several times that those who were members of TuD might find a home here. Some did, some did not, At least one was put off my our name, preferring to assume it is a scatological phrase as opposed to For Unlimited Diabetes. Others may be here, but they have different names as they didn’t want to be (fill in the blank) 1 or 2 or whatever.
Granted the FuD is a smaller community, but that has it’s pluses. Most of us here cared deeply for the rest.
TuD was sponsored by an institution. We are sponsored by one person who volunteers his time and money so that the rest of us have a place of our own.
I was members of both. I found this place more to my liking.
5 Likes
What institution was tu sponsored by?
I have only been a diabetic 4 years so the tu diabetes approach, focusing on type one I liked as I needed a lot of help. I was n’t aware of the long-standing separation of 10 years. I did not run into that issue of moderator suppression. Although I joined and my comments and Posts were blocked for a year, I never knew why, but once I was allowed, got lots of help. I like the separation of type one type two although I have since learned from my doctor. (one of the rare bits of information he has given me.) then a type one can also have type two but not vice v versa obviously.
@andrea8 originally it was Diabetes Hands Foundation in 2007. In 2017 DHF shutdown and was taken over by Beyond Type 1. In 2021 Beyond Type 1 began a joint collaboration with the American Diabetes Association.
The reasons given for pulling sponsorship of the website was declining activity.
1 Like
Is beyond type one Diabetes, the Sponsor of Tu Diabetes? Do you recommend beyond type one?
1 Like
I haven’t looked at it or Beyond Type 2 in a while. Unless they have changed radically they are not my cup of tea.
I prefer a format like the dead TuD and the vibrant FuD where members can be helped and be helpful to each other. That doesn’t appear to happen on Beyond Type X. Mostly them spouting an ADA line. It might be good for general information but not for helping those with specific issues.
Take a look and if I’m wrong let me know
2 Likes
I did look into beyond type one when two Diabetes was going down. They started sending me text messages to solicit me.. I quickly realized Beyond was a professional advice website. Did not join.