Alluring August
Join our #BlueCircleWorkshops led by and for people living with diabetes, Sunday, 5PM IST - free and open to all!
This Sunday, we're excited to host the 40th episode of our series 'Meethi Baatein' that celebrates top contributors of our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India with Rajiv who has had type 1 diabetes since 1961 & our host, Sanskruti.
Apply to be an app beta tester!
We have been working behind the scenes, making a big revamp to our Blue Circle Diabetes mobile app, which is an app made ‘by’ and ‘for’ people with all types of diabetes. Come join the cool club of diverse Blue Circle Beta Testers. Read more about the Blue Circle Diabetes app:
See if you fit the eligibility criteria and apply now!
Have questions? Email: support@bluecircle.foundation
We have several upcoming events in the next few weeks, join us! Stay tuned for upcoming virtual and physical events in your cities & don't miss the chance to meet other friends & families with diabetes! Any questions? Ask away on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India and head to the 'Events' section on the group to RSVP for events you want to share or attend!
Join us online & offline!
We share all important information and updates on our social media handles, so ensure you join our Facebook community , follow us on Instagram , Twitter , YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn. Here's a quick low down on all that happened in August 2024 at Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation.
We had 15 online and offline events in August 2024 - of which we had physical meets in Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Jaipur- see the photos below!
Glimpses from our offline meets
Friends from our Mumbai coffee catch-up!
Smiles from our Pune coffee catch-up!
Smiles from Pune 😄
Friends from our Delhi golf and coffee catch-up!
Friends from our Chennai coffee catch-up!
Old Age Home Diabetes Awareness
Our recent diabetes awareness session in Mumbai at an old age home brought together senior citizens for an enlightening discussion on managing diabetes. We fostered a sense of community among our elderly friends, ensuring that no one has to manage diabetes alone 👵💪 Kudos to our volunteers! See the photos above and a short video clip below-
4 School Diabetes Awareness & Screening Programs
Photos from the school at Panshet village
Did you know that India has the highest number of children & adolescents living with type 1 diabetes? Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation organised 4 School Diabetes Awareness Programmes & blood sugar screening camps in August in & around Pune, India- the first one, a rural School Diabetes Awareness Programme and blood sugar screening camp for over 350 students and staff on 16th August at Venkateshwara School for kids from from low income families, in Panshet village, near Pune, India. See a few photos shared above & a video below-
We were warmly welcomed by the school administration and the students! Help make a difference & please get in touch with us on support@bluecircle.foundation if you would like to arrange similar sessions at your school or organisation.
Please feel free to click this post on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network India which will take you to a downloadable and editable letter for conducting diabetes awareness programs at schools. Edit it with your child's specific details and share a signed copies with the child's school principal, teachers, etc. If you would like to volunteer with us, keep an eye out for calls for volunteers on our Facebook community Diabetes Support Network - India & please fill this form.
The second school diabetes awareness and screening program we organised was for over 300 students (from grades 3 to 6) and staff on 20th August at Pujya Kasturba Gandhi English & Marathi School, for kids from from low income families in Pune, India.
We also met with a teacher with pre-existing type 1 diabetes & 2 staff with pre-existing type 2 diabetes. See below photos and videos from the session-
Photos from the awareness program for grades 3-6
Check out the video-
The third rural school diabetes awareness and screening program we organised was for over 600 students and staff on 22nd August at Lokseva English School, for kids from from low income families from Maharashtra & Nagaland in Phulgaon village, Haveli Taluka, Pune district
We also met with a teacher with pre-existing type 3c diabetes, 1 staff with type 2 & we diagnosed another teacher and student with elevated blood sugar levels - we have advised the school administration that they seek medical assistance immediately & will follow up.
See below photos and videos from the session-
Pictures from the rural school at Phulgaon village
The fourth school diabetes awareness program we organised was for over 300 students (from grades 7 to 10) and staff on 20th August at Pujya Kasturba Gandhi English & Marathi School, for kids from from low income families in Pune, India.
See below photos and videos from the session-
Pictures for grades 7-10th from Pujya Kasturbha Gandhi School
Exciting updates coming soon!
We've had some interesting experiences lately with a diabetes documentary shooting. Watch this space for more!
T1D Events in Rajasthan
Nupur & Snehal represented the Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation community, along with diabetes advocates from across India in Rajasthan. The weekend began in Udaipur with a multi sectoral dialogue on type 1 diabetes & non-communicable diseases in children organised by Breakthrough T1D & UNICEF & hosted by Padmaja Kumari Parmar, from the former royal house of Udaipur in Rajasthan who also lives with type 1 diabetes.
From Udaipur we headed to Jaipur, right into the Eastern Rajasthan floods in Jaipur. At the T1D conclave, the NCD department of the Government of Rajasthan & the National Health Mission launched its Type 1 Diabetes program to strengthen delivery of services and care for those living with T1 in the state of Rajasthan. Speakers included Rajasthan's health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar, doctors & as well as Nupur who was on a panel of lived experience experts. Here’s hoping more state governments take up this vital cause. Photos from the events-
Photos from the Rajasthan events
High Level Roundtable on UHC & population ageing
Nupur was invited as a panelist at a high-level roundtable discussion on Universal Health Coverage in Low and Middle Income Countries in Asia by the International Longevity Centre, UK. The panel discussed the need to reorient health systems to better prepare for population ageing, making UHC in Asian low & middle income countries a reality for all & potential for improvements in policy priorities to benefit older people.
11th World Congress on Prevention of Diabetes, Mumbai
Snehal was a speaker at the 11th World Congress on Prevention of Diabetes and its Complications in Mumbai. She spoke about the need for T1D advocacy in India 🇮🇳 at the Breakthrough T1D DRS symposium
In the News
In the Diabetes Health Magazine, Nishtha discusses the importance of taking care of your feet in the monsoons. Read the full article here.
Read this publication on ‘Caring for Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes in Schools' in CDRP, the flagship journal of the Chellaram Diabetes Institute where Nupur Lalvani contributed as a co-author.
Unnikrishnan, Ambika G.1; Lalvani, Nupur2; Tiwari, Shalbha3. Caring for Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes in the School Setting in India: The Importance of Adequate Support. Chronicle of Diabetes Research and Practice 3(2):p 47-49, Jul–Dec 2024. | DOI: 10.4103/cdrp.cdrp_1_24
In The Happy Moments पल-पल की ख़ुशियाँ podcast, Sanjay Rajpal from Ypsomed interviews our community member Ashlesha Jadhav who has been living with type 1 diabetes since 18 years. Ashlesha is a lawyer who enjoys reading & socialising & in this podcast she shares some secrets to a balanced life with T1D. Listen to the podcast here.
Blue Circle 🔵 Diabetes Myth Busters ✋
Hug trees for the right reasons, says Nupur 😂💚 it is NOT going to cure your diabetes or stimulate your pancreas. What other myths would you like to see busted? 👊
#BlueCircleWorkshops (online)
Did you know that since the onset of COVID-19, every Sunday we've consistently hosted over 200 FREE, online diabetes workshops by and for people living with all types of diabetes as part of our commitment to accessible health education? Each workshop is led by experts who are passionate about making a meaningful difference. Check out our YouTube playlist to see some of these workshops.
Join in, have fun and learn new things. Sign up as a member and follow our social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn to know of upcoming workshops. Be a part of our awesome Facebook community too!
RSVP & tune in on Facebook for the live workshops (if you miss a workshop, catch up later with recordings on YouTube or Facebook). Let's learn, grow, and navigate together.
August #BlueCircleWorkshops
Eating Out with Diabetes: Workshop
Join Isha & Nupur, both living with type 1 diabetes in this workshop where they share tips on eating out at restaurants (or ordering in) intelligently with diabetes.
Want to dive into more workshops on travel and low carb? See our #BlueCircleWorkshops low carb playlist on YouTube. Also, see our video on travelling while low carb and see our blogs on low carb.
#BlueCircleWorkshops are free, online workshops on diabetes by and for people living with various types of diabetes. Join us every Sunday at 5PM India time!
Click the post below to view the workshop video on Facebook (you can also view on YouTube here)
Debunking Diabetes Myths: FB Chat thread
We hosted a special discussion on debunking diabetes myths on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India or a day of sharing experiences & challenges dealing with diabetes myths Click this link to read the chat & participate.
#BlueCircleWorkshops are free, online workshops on diabetes by and for people living with various types of diabetes. Join us every Sunday at 5PM India time!
Bodybuilding & T1D: Workshop
Join Ronak (T1D) as he chats with state & national level bodybuilder Gurpreet who also lives with type 1 diabetes & shares his journey.
Want to learn more about diabetes & exercise? See our #BlueCircleWorkshops exercise playlist on YouTube. Also, read our exercise related blogs.
#BlueCircleWorkshops are free, online workshops on diabetes by and for people living with various types of diabetes. Join us every Sunday at 5PM India time!
Click the post below to view the workshop video on Facebook (you can also view on YouTube here)
Meethi Baatein
Dive into the 39th episode of our series, Meethi Baatein, as we spotlight and celebrate the top contributors of our vibrant Facebook community. This time, join Ronak, who lives with type 1 diabetes as he chats with top contributor Deepak, whose young son has type 1 diabetes. Their shared experiences, insights, and stories promise to resonate with many. See the recording here.
WE ARE 16,000 STRONG ❤️💙
We want to thank YOU for making our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India a supportive & helpful family. You have helped us keep this award-winning community clean, spam-free, kind and a safe space for people with all types of diabetes to share their experiences & questions. Big thank you to each one of you!
Use the red 'Invite' button (just below our name, Diabetes Support Network India) & invite people from your Facebook friend list who may benefit from a deep dive into all types of diabetes.
Buddy Project Helpline turned 4 in May 🎁🎂🎉
Happy Birthday to our Buddy Project Helpline and a big thank you to our buddies, past & present who have volunteered on the helpline 💙
The Buddy Project Helpline started during Covid19 and continues to be a diabetes & mental health support system, free of cost and open to anyone with any type of diabetes & their caregivers.
🆘Read more about the helpline here
🆘 Download on Android here
🆘 Download on iOS here
🆘Read about the Blue Circle Diabetes app here
Help us keep our community safe 🥹💪🏼
Join our mission to keep our Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation and Diabetes Support Network - India community safe! 🛡️ Nupur Lalvani and Snehal Nandagawli are here with a special message: Help us protect our safe space from spammers, sellers & troublemakers. Let’s work together to maintain a supportive, informative, and spam-free environment for everyone. Watch the video to find out how you can contribute to a safer community 🩵🤝
#BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar 2024
We are thrilled to unveil our 5th edition of the #BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar for 2024! Featuring 12 incredible individuals with various types of diabetes, this calendar is a daily reminder that a diagnosis didn't end the journey & with grit and determination we will triumph together!
Our #BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar is making headlines in the Indian Express newspaper! Featuring 12 inspiring people with various types of diabetes, it's a celebration of resilience and strength. Read our feature here.
Support us by purchasing calendars, magnets & stickers from the Blue Circle Store: https://www.bluecircle.foundation/store
Success Stories
Found the community helpful, have a success story to share? E-mail us on support@bluecircle.foundation and we'll be happy to feature you! Click the post below to read Alka's success story-
Letter for Schools
Whether newly diagnosed or not, it's an anxious time for parents of kids with type 1 diabetes. Please feel free to click this post on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network India which will take you to a downloadable and editable letter for schools. Edit it with your child's specific details and share a signed copies with the child's school principal, teachers, etc.
You are welcome to email us on support@bluecircle.foundation if you face any issues with school admissions etc or you would like us to organise a diabetes awareness programme at your school or organisations.
See the post below for an important announcement regarding schools and universities. Click the post below, go to the comments section to read or download each circular issued by the NCPCR - National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Buddy Project Helpline
The Buddy Project Helpline started during Covid19 and continues to be a diabetes & mental health support system & helpline, free of cost and open to anyone with any type of diabetes & their caregivers.
Read more about the helpline & to use the helpline, download the Blue Circle Diabetes mobile app on Android or iOS. Also read about the Blue Circle Diabetes app and all its features here.
The Buddy Project Helpline is our mobile app based psychosocial helpline for diabetes and mental health. 10 trained volunteers living with diabetes (type 1, type 2 & caregivers), speaking 9 different languages (English, Hindi, Dutch, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil and Punjabi) are here to listen to you without judgements. If you feel lost, depressed, anxious, panicky, suicidal or generally upset, please schedule a call with us. These are tough times but remember you are NOT alone, your community stands with you.
How to call the Buddy Project helpline
Open the Blue Circle Diabetes app > Buddy Project > Schedule tab > pick a buddy of your choice > Schedule a call (once you schedule you'll see it under the 'Meetings' tab > 10 minutes prior to the call, you'll receive an app notification/reminder > To join the call, open the app, go to Buddy Project & under the 'Meetings' tab, press the 'Join' button (video is off by default, can switch on as per preference)
Why should you attend our meet-ups?
Fair question! Check out this post to know why-
Diabetes Humour
Life with any type of diabetes is not easy. Here's a little diabetes humour to brighten up your day. Click the posts below & like, share & comment!
Looking for a partner? Marriage & Diabetes
We understand that a lot of people with diabetes face tremendous difficulties in finding the right partner and getting married. We have received a lot of requests over the years to facilitate a platform to this end. Here's our small effort in that direction. If you'd like to find a partner, or are a parent who would like to introduce their child looking to get married, please introduce yourself on our private Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India.
Blue Circle Store- Relaunched!
Check out the adorable diabetes merchandise from the Blue Circle Store and order them now!
#FlipTheCalendar August 2024
Sound on and time to #FlipTheCalendar! The #BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar is a fun calendar featuring people living with all types of diabetes. Featuring Nupur Lalvani an egg advocate 🍳 who has type 1 diabetes🥇
Order calendars & adorable diabetes merchandise:
https://www.bluecircle.foundation/store
Blue Circle Blogs
Read our blog here. We write about everything from recipes to people's stories, technology and everything diabetes!
Donate
India's first app, made by diabetics & for diabetics. If you have found the app helpful & would like to help, consider making a small donation of Rs 99 per month: https://www.bluecircle.foundation/donate
Download the Blue Circle Diabetes app on Android and iOS. Click here to read about the app & its features.
Thank you to our wonderful community for helping us making the app better for you! We look forward to your generosity to help us rewrite the app ground up! Use the 'New Feature Idea' button on the app to tell us what features may make the app better.
#SugarDetective
Be a #SugarDetective! Come be part of our new campaign! Help spread awareness by sharing hidden sugars in packaged foods. Like Sherlock Holmes said, "you see, but you do not observe". Let's observe what's in our food and share!
Put up posts on your social media platforms and use the hashtag #SugarDetective & #BlueCircleDiabetesFoundation (also tag us!) You can also share the post on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India.
Connect with us and participate!
Join our award winning Facebook community, like and follow our page, subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn too! Use the Blue Circle Diabetes app to track your vitals and don't forget to check out our website and Buddy Project helpline too!
SUPPORT BLUE CIRCLE DIABETES FOUNDATION
We need your help and support to continue to grow, expand and touch the lives of countless people in the diabetes community. Every little bit helps us in sustaining this endeavour. Our NGO is registered under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, India.
Click here to donate