New Game on Facebook Helps People with Diabetes Improve Everyday Behaviors

Disclosure: Being diabetic means I keep a look out for all things related:

A new game called HealthSeeker(TM) launched today to more than 400 million active users of Facebook®(1), with the goal of helping adults with specific lifestyle and nutritional challenges. While the benefits of the game are available to anyone, HealthSeeker specifically helps people with diabetes make more informed lifestyle decisions in an innovative way that complements their daily use of social media.

HealthSeeker is a unique online experience that combines a supportive social networking environment with important information on managing diabetes. The game utilizes the player’s own Facebook friends as sources of inspiration and support along the road to better health. There are MISSIONS and ACTION STEPS to help players achieve several LIFESTYLE GOALS. The MISSIONS and ACTION STEPS that players select must be completed in order to advance in the game. The LIFESTYLE GOALS include eating healthier, achieving an optimal weight, lowering blood sugar levels and lowering cardiovascular risk factors. As ACTION STEPS are completed and players return to report their progress, they receive experience points and other awards for their achievements.

HealthSeeker is a unique collaboration between experts, advocates and industry partners who are on the front lines of diabetes care. It was developed by Diabetes Hands Foundation in collaboration with Joslin Diabetes Center, with support provided by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

“With HealthSeeker, we wanted to harness the Facebook phenomenon to help people with diabetes make necessary changes in their daily lives,” said Manny Hernandez, president, Diabetes Hands Foundation, who has been living with diabetes since 2002. “I cannot overstate how important a source of support, information and inspiration social networking tools like this one can be for someone living with a chronic condition like diabetes.”

Many people with diabetes struggle with the lifestyle changes that are needed to help manage their condition, such as adding more fiber, fruit and vegetables to their diets, or increasing their daily activity. HealthSeeker can help people with diabetes stay motivated by presenting simple, everyday steps to help them achieve their lifestyle goals.

“As a clinician who has been treating people with diabetes for more than 30 years, I can tell you that food is often the most frustrating area of concern for people with the condition,” said Richard Jackson, MD, an endocrinologist and director of medical affairs, healthcare services, Joslin Diabetes Center and assistant professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School. “We hope this novel and engaging game will break down some of the barriers that prevent people with diabetes from building a successful lifestyle approach to their condition.”

HealthSeeker can be accessed free of charge at www.healthseekergame.org. The game was designed by Ayogo Games, Inc.

Support from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for HealthSeeker is part of a global initiative that includes a collection of creative online diabetes games reflecting the company’s commitment to transforming one way that people learn, through innovative education.