Holidays often induce stress, but caring for children with diabetes this time of year can mean an additional layer of pressure. Parents and caregivers can visit a webiste to participate in live Web chats with diabetes specialists for expert advice on how to best manage a child's diabetes during the holidays, find social support and receive a free download of the 'Diabetes Fit Food' booklet for tips on healthy eating.

The Web site and tools are in response to a recent survey conducted by Children with Diabetes and sponsored by Abbott Diabetes Care which found that 93 percent of parents who had a child with diabetes reported it is challenging to stick to regular diabetes' routines during the holidays, defined as the time between Thanksgiving and New Year's. These parents also said their children experience more periods of uncontrolled blood glucose during this time, which can have serious health consequences. Because of these two factors - disrupted routines and fluctuating glucose levels - many parents said they feel the need to measure their child's glucose level during the holiday season "more often than usual."

Almost 60 percent of parents surveyed said stress levels increase when it comes to caring for children with diabetes during the holiday season, with the major challenge being the disruption of normal daily routines during this time. A majority of respondents said support from family, friends and healthcare professionals, as well as interactive educational tools, such as Web chats and online forums, would help decrease their anxiety and enable them to better manage their child's diabetes.

Online tools to help with caring for children with diabetes during the holidays will be available from Nov. 8, 2007 through Jan. 3, 2008.

For further information, please visit:
http://www.abbottdiabetescare.com

Additional resources:
http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com
http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp
http://www.abbott.com
http://www.dlife.com
http://www.diabetescontrolforlife.com
http://www.jdrf.org

About Abbott
Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs 65,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the company's Web site at www.abbott.com.