Newsletter: Dear December
Welcome to our Dear December newsletter edition, where we spotlight incredible achievements, global representation, and inspiring initiatives from our vibrant diabetes community. This month, we wrap up the year with massive outreach, including diabetes awareness programs in public schools, where we connected with over 9,000 students in December alone. We also celebrate the launch of the Blue Circle Diabetes Calendar, featuring 12 special people living with various types of diabetes. Let’s dive in!
Announcement - Blue Circle Calendar 2025
We're thrilled to unveil our 6th edition of the #BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar for 2025!
Grab yours TODAY: https://www.bluecircle.foundation/store
Featuring 12 incredible individuals with various types of diabetes, this charity calendar is a daily reminder that a diagnosis didn't end the journey & with grit and determination we will triumph together! Perfect for your desk, or as an inspiring gift for family and friends! For bulk orders, reach out at support@bluecircle.foundation
Meet the awesome people on the calendar- each one lives with some type of diabetes
Meet the awesome people on the calendar- each one lives with some type of diabetes
Join our #BlueCircleWorkshops led by and for people living with diabetes, Sunday, 5PM IST - free and open to all!
Snehal & Nupur will recap the year that went by and talk about goals for 2025. Excited to hear from all of you too!
Tune in on Facebook Live, click here to RSVP/view!
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 in for online and offline events!
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 December 2024 at Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation.
We had 22 online and offline events in December 2024 - of which we had physical meets and diabetes awareness sessions in Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Dehradun, Nashik and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) - see the photos below!
Glimpses from our offline meets
Friends from our Mumbai art workshop!
See the video-
Smiles from our Pune yoga group!
Photos from the yoga session!
See the video-
Friends from our Nashik coffee catch-up!
Smiles from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) coffee catch-up!
11 School Diabetes Awareness & Screening Programs
Ending the year with a bang! Did you know that India has the highest number of children & adolescents living with type 1 diabetes? Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation organized 11 School Diabetes Awareness Programmes and blood sugar screening camps for over 9000 students and school staff in December, photos below. Help make a difference and please get in touch with us at support@bluecircle.foundation if you would like to arrange similar sessions at your school or organisation. If you are interested in volunteering, keep an eye out for calls on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network India.
We organized a School Diabetes Awareness Programme & blood sugar screening camp for over 1000 children & adults on 9th December at Malinbaichi Shaala Marathi School for kids from from low income families from Pune, India 💪💙 No reported high glucose values in students however a few staff had high sugars (pre existing type 2 diabetes) & were counselled to visit their healthcare providers. See the video here and photos below -
Photos from the school program
We organized a School Diabetes Awareness Programme & blood sugar screening camp for over 1000 children & adults on 11th December at Gagangiri government School for kids from from low income families from Pune, India 💪💙 No reported high glucose values in students however a few staff had high sugars (pre existing type 2 diabetes) & were counselled to visit their healthcare providers. See the video here and photos below -
Photos from the school program
We organized a School Diabetes Awareness Programme & blood sugar screening camp for over 1200 children & adults on 12th December at Yashodeep government School for kids from from low income families from Pune, India 💪💙 No reported high glucose values in students however a few staff had high sugars (pre existing type 2 diabetes & a clerk with type 1 diabetes) & were counselled to visit their healthcare providers. See the video here and photos below -
Photos from the school program
We organized a School Diabetes Awareness Programme & blood sugar screening camp for over 1200 children & adults on 17th December at New English School Sasane Nagar government school for kids from from low income families from Pune, India 💪💙 No reported high glucose values in students however a few staff had high sugars (pre existing type 2 diabetes & 1 student with pre existing type 1 diabetes) & were counselled to visit their healthcare providers. See the video here and photos below -
Photos from the school program
We organized a School Diabetes Awareness Programme & blood sugar screening camp for over 1400 children & adults on 19th December at Samata Vidyalaya government school for kids from from low income families from Urali Devachi, Haveli Taluka, India 💪💙 No reported high glucose values. See the video here and photos below -
Photos from the school program
We organized four School Diabetes Awareness Programme & blood sugar screening camp for over 1800 children & adults on 20th December at the following schools- Shri Shivaji Madhyamik Vidyalaya in Aambegaon, Shirur, Shankarrao Dhone Vidyalaya and Zilla Parishad Primary School in Garade village, Purandhar Tehsil and Zilla Parishad Primary School in Bhivari village, Purandhar Tehsil for kids from from low income families from Pune, India 💪💙 No reported high glucose values in students however a few staff had high sugars (pre existing type 2 diabetes & 3 students with pre existing type 1 diabetes from 1 school) & were counselled to visit their healthcare providers. See the video here and photos below -
Photos from the 4 school programs
We organized two School Diabetes Awareness Programme & blood sugar screening camp for over 1200 children & adults on 23rd December at Dynanprabodhini School & Shrimati Dattatraya Kotwal Madhyamik Vidyalaya for kids from from low income families from Pune, India 💪💙 One child had high blood sugars & investigations are underway. See the video here and photos below-
Photos from the 2 school programs
In the News
🎥 Watch ‘Going Full Circle’, a powerful micro-documentary by the NCD Alliance showcasing the impact of community in driving change. Meet Nupur, Snehal & Tanisha from Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation, each living with type 1 diabetes. Their stories reveal how the strength of community and the will to #LeadOnNCDs can inspire true transformation. Don’t miss it!
The International Diabetes Federation has chosen “Diabetes and Well-being” as the theme for World Diabetes Day 2024-26. Their new campaign video features inspiring stories from diabetes advocates worldwide, including Nupur Lalvani from Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation sharing the profound impact of diabetes on their well-being.
This World Diabetes Day, let’s prioritize well-being in diabetes care and take the first step toward creating a better diabetes life for everyone. See the video below-
Meeting on Type 1 Diabetes, Paris
This month, Nupur Lalvani represented the Indian type 1 diabetes community in Paris, contributing to shaping the global T1D access strategy. With a focus on improving care and equity for those living with T1D, this collaboration brings us closer to sustainable and impactful solutions for underserved communities worldwide.
Photos from Paris
Meeting on Type 1 Diabetes, Dehradun
Snehal Nandagawli represented Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation alongside diabetes advocates from across India in Dehradun. At the T1D Conclave, the NCD Department of Uttarakhand Government & National Health Mission discussed strengthening Type 1 Diabetes care. Here’s hoping more state governments champion this vital cause!
Our app uptime is 99.8%, and we’ve been working hard to bring our response time down to a lightning-fast ~100 milliseconds! Have any questions? Ask in our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India.
Download the Blue Circle Diabetes mobile app on Android and iOS. Learn more about all the app features in this blog.
New Blog Alert! Urvashi Gopwani reviews Ditch The Guilt Lemon Cheesecake Chocolate Bar, a low-carb, blood sugar-friendly chocolate. Discover its effect on her blood sugars & overall thoughts about it! Read the blog here & see the video below-
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.
Common Gynaecological Complaints: Workshop
Snehal (T1D) is in conversation with Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Ashwini Nabar about common gynaecological complaints. This session is an initiative under Project Gaia, where we aim to create a safe space for women with all types of diabetes.
Want to dive into more workshops on diabetes & women? See our Project Gaia women playlist.
#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)
Virtual Coffee: Workshop
Grab your cuppa & join our virtual coffee chat with Snehal & Nupur as they share highlights from the various conferences they’ve been to lately & also ask them anything about diabetes!
Want to dive into more workshops on diabetes technology? See our tech playlist. Also, see our blogs on diabetes technology.
#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 43rd episode of our series, Meethi Baatein, as we spotlight and celebrate the top contributors of our vibrant Facebook community. This time, join Siddharth, living with T1 as he chats with top contributor Shriram, with type 2 diabetes! Their shared experiences, insights, and stories promise to resonate with many. See the recording here.
#BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar Launch | Live with Princess Padmaja
Nupur & Snehal (T1) are in conversation with Princess Padmaja Kumari Parmar from the house of Mewar, Udaipur, Rajasthan who also lives with type 1 diabetes as she unveils the #BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar 2025. You'll also find her on the pages of this awesome charity calendar which features 12 people living with different types of diabetes. Support the NGO by buying calendars and fun diabetes merchandise on https://www.bluecircle.foundation/store
#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)
#BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar Launch | Live with Megha Gupta
Nupur is in conversation with actress Megha Gupta who also lives with type 1 diabetes as she unveils the #BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar 2025. You'll also find her on the pages of this awesome charity calendar which features 12 people living with different types of diabetes. Support the NGO by buying calendars and fun diabetes merchandise on https://www.bluecircle.foundation/store
#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 -
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 🩵🤝
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 December 2024
Sound on and time to #FlipTheCalendar! The #BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar is a fun calendar featuring people living with all types of diabetes. Featuring engineer & lipstick lover Snehal, 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.
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
