college diabetes network

What college diabetes network does

The Diabetes Link (legally College Diabetes Network, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, that operates the only national peer-support community dedicated exclusively to young adults aged 16–30 living with diabetes (including Type 1, Type 2, LADA, and others). Its core platform is a community ecosystem rather than a software product: an online Discord community, a network of campus chapters at universities nationwide, local in-person meetups, and live virtual Off to College sessions, supplemented by a peer-perspectives blog, a curated scholarship directory, and a topic-organized resource library covering mental health, sex and relationships, money and insurance, nutrition, travel, and diabetes management.

The organization earns no revenue from end users; all programs are free. It is funded through three streams: individual donations processed via the Classy platform, corporate memberships from a roster of major diabetes device and pharmaceutical companies (including Dexcom, Insulet, Lilly, Vertex, Sanofi, Xeris, Abbott, Medtronic, MannKind, Sequel, Eversense, and PhRMA) that sponsor specific programs such as the Newly Diagnosed Experience, Hypoglycemia Education, Peer Connection, and Geographic Community Expansion, and grants. The operational technology stack is built on standard SaaS tools (HubSpot for email, Eventbrite for events, SmartRecruiters for hiring, FormAssembly for data collection), with no proprietary software, mobile app, or AI/ML capability described.

The Diabetes Link serves multiple stakeholder segments beyond its primary young-adult member base, including parents and caregivers (via dedicated parent resources and Off to College sessions), healthcare providers and clinicians (through partnerships with the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists and the American Diabetes Association), and industry partners seeking access to the young-adult diabetes demographic. As of 2024, the organization is led by a remote-first team of approximately 15 staff under CEO Manny Hernández, who was appointed in November 2024 following the founder's 2023 departure, and is governed by a board drawn from healthcare, finance, and diabetes-industry leadership.

Name

college diabetes network

Legal name

College Diabetes Network, Inc.

Website

https://collegediabetesnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Diabetes Link (College Diabetes Network, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the only national peer-support community dedicated exclusively to young adults aged 16-30 living with diabetes, delivered through a Discord online community, college chapter network, local meetups, and educational programs funded by donations, corporate memberships, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Advocacy and Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

akta.pro primary industry

Type 1 Diabetes Care (HLAKADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Diabetes & Blood Sugar Nutrition Coaching (HSADAFAF)

Keywords

• Diabetes peer support
• Young adult health
• Nonprofit community programs
• Chronic disease advocacy
• Patient education resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donors contribute to The Diabetes Link to fund programs supporting young adults with diabetes. Donations are processed via the Classy platform.
2. Corporate Membership / Industry Sponsorship: Corporate partners (Dexcom, Insulet, Sanofi, Xeris, Mannkind, Lilly, Vertex, Abbott, Medtronic, Sequel, Eversense, PhRMA) pay for corporate membership to reach the young adult diabetes community. Sponsorships fund specific programs (Newly Diagnosed Experience, Hypoglycemia Education, Peer Connection, Geographic Community Expansion).
3. Grants: The organization receives grant funding as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. IRS Form 990 filings are publicly available.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

College Diabetes Network (The Diabetes Link) provides peer support, education, and advocacy resources for young adults aged 16–30 living with diabetes. Its core deliverables are an online Discord community, a nationwide network of campus chapters, local in-person meetups, virtual "Off to College" sessions, a peer-perspectives blog, a scholarship directory, and an online resource library.

Product overview

The Diabetes Link (formerly College Diabetes Network) is a nonprofit organization that provides a community platform and resource ecosystem for young adults living with diabetes. The core offerings consist of an online Discord community, college chapter network, local meetups, and live Off to College sessions. These are supplemented by a blog (Peer Perspectives), scholarship directory, and a comprehensive resource library covering topics like nutrition, mental health, advocacy, and diabetes management. The organization does not offer a software product in the traditional SaaS sense, but rather serves as a community and educational hub connecting young adults with diabetes to peer support, practical guidance, and resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Community (Discord)

Quantifiable outcome

• Contributes to better health outcomes as well as academic and career success for young adults with diabetes.
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Breakthrough T1DcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) and The Link team up so students prepping for the jump to high school have access to The Link's Off to College programs and support. Link College Chapters are present at Breakthrough T1D Community Summits.
• American Diabetes Association (ADA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADA and The Link co-host live sessions that walk young adults and their parents through legal accommodations in school and work. They are also partnering on the first multimedia Newly Diagnosed Experience for young adults living with any form of diabetes.
• Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADCES and The Link partner to connect young adults living with diabetes to career paths in patient care, and to make sure ADCES clinicians have access to Link resources to support their patients.
• Blue Circle HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Circle Health and The Link ensure young adults have access to care in every state Blue Circle operates, and Blue Circle connects the young adults it serves to The Link's community support.
• Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPAC connects The Link's college chapters and young adults interested in advocacy with opportunities to get involved at the state and national level. Many Link chapter members go on to become DPAC Ambassadors.
• Time in Range Coalition (diaTribe)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Diabetes Link serves alongside nonprofit partners on the Time in Range Coalition, coordinated by diaTribe.
• T1D CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Diabetes Link serves alongside nonprofit partners on the T1D Coalition.
• LillycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLilly supports The Link's Newly Diagnosed Experience and Geographic Community Expansion programs as a corporate member. They are listed among the organization's most significant industry supporters.
• Vertex PharmaceuticalscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVertex is a sponsor of The Link's Hypoglycemia Education initiatives. Vertex is featured as a corporate member and supporter.
• Xeris PharmaceuticalscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerXeris supports The Link's Newly Diagnosed Experience. Listed as a corporate member and industry supporter.
• SanoficoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSanofi supports The Link's work through a healthcare contribution. Listed as a corporate member.
• InsuletcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInsulet supports The Link's Peer Connection & Community Expansion programs. Listed as a corporate member. Lucas Escobar, Director of U.S. Consumer Marketing at Insulet, serves on The Link's Board of Directors.
• DexcomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDexcom is listed as an industry partner/corporate member. Provides careers and early careers links on The Link's industry partners page.
• Abbott (FreeStyle Libre)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAbbott is listed as an industry partner/corporate member. Provides careers and early careers links on The Link's industry partners page.
• Medtronic (MiniMed)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMiniMed (Medtronic) is listed as an industry partner/corporate member. Provides careers and early careers links.
• MannKindminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMannKind is listed as an industry partner. Supports the MannKind Al Mann Centennial Scholarship (up to $10,000) for students with diabetes.
• Eversense (Ascensia)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEversense is listed as an industry partner/corporate member.
• Sequel (Twiist)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSequel (Twiist) is listed as an industry partner.
• PhRMAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhRMA is listed as an industry partner/corporate member.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Beyond Type 1: National nonprofit serving people living with Type 1 diabetes across age groups with peer community, education, and grant programs. Most direct comparable to The Diabetes Link given overlapping mission and youth-focused programming.
• Children with Diabetes: Long-running diabetes community organization focused on children and teens with diabetes and their families. Adjacent in mission — both serve youth populations navigating life with T1D and host community events.
• Diabetes Hands Foundation: Diabetes advocacy nonprofit founded by current Link CEO Manny Hernández. Comparable community/peer-support mission and historical role in online diabetes community-building (TuDiabetes, EsTuDiabetes).
• Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC): Diabetes policy advocacy nonprofit that recruits young adult advocates and DPAC Ambassadors from The Link's college chapters. Direct overlap on advocacy programming and young adult demographic.

Broad incumbents

• Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF): The largest US T1D-focused nonprofit, historically research- and cure-oriented but increasingly funding young adult and community programs. Strategic partner of The Diabetes Link via Off to College collaboration.
• American Diabetes Association: The largest US diabetes nonprofit covering all diabetes types across all ages. Co-develops the Newly Diagnosed Experience with The Diabetes Link and is a mutual strategic partner.
• ADCES (Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists): Professional association for diabetes care and education specialists. Strategic partner connecting young adults to CDCES careers and routing clinicians to Link resources for their patients.

Emerging players

• T1D Exchange: Nonprofit focused on T1D research, real-world data, and the largest US T1D patient registry. Co-founded by Link board treasurer Marie Schiller; complementary to The Link's community programs.
• diaTribe (Time in Range Coalition): Diabetes education nonprofit producing patient-facing content on diabetes management and convening the Time in Range Coalition, of which The Diabetes Link is a member partner.

Others

• Insulet Corporation: Omnipod tubeless insulin pump manufacturer; Link board director Lucas Escobar leads US consumer marketing there. Functions as a corporate sponsor and is part of The Link's industry partnership ecosystem rather than a direct nonprofit peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thediabeteslink
• Facebookfacebook.com/thediabeteslink
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thediabeteslink/posts/?feedView=all
• Instagraminstagram.com/thediabeteslink
• TikToktiktok.com/@thediabeteslink

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about college diabetes network