July Joy
Join our #BlueCircleWorkshops led by and for people living with diabetes, every Sunday, 5PM IST - free and open to all! This Sunday Ajay, living with type 2 diabetes & Veb (who is a T2 in remission) will talk about their experiences using Dr Jason Fung's protocol for type 2 diabetes. RSVP here to tune into their Facebook Live.
We have several upcoming events in the next few weeks, join us! Stay tuned for upcoming 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!
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 June 2023 at Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation.
We had 19 online and offline events in July 2023 - of which we had 13 physical meets in Nagpur, London, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Pune, Kanpur, Lucknow, Amritsar, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi - see the photos below!
Glimpses from our offline meets
We had an enjoyable low carb potluck with friends in Bengaluru! Want to know more about low carb? Read all our low carb blogs and see our low carb playlist on YouTube.
Our Pune friends clearly had a good time over coffee with friends! Stay tuned to our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India for updates in all cities.
Our Delhi friends having fun at the coffee catch-up. Stay tuned for the next one!
All smiles at our first London coffee catch-up!
More smiles at our Mumbai coffee catch up!
Looks like some fun was had at our Ahmedabad coffee catch-up!
Having a blast with dia-buddies at the Hyderabad coffee catch-up!
Friends from our Amritsar coffee catch-up!
Friends from our Jaipur coffee catch-up!
Say hi to the ladies at the Nagpur coffee catch-up!
Friends from our Kanpur chai pe charcha!
#BlueCircleWorkshops (online)
Blue Circle Workshops are online weekend workshops, led by people living with various types of diabetes. By the people and for the people with diabetes! These workshops are free and open for all, even non diabetics. We started these workshops in 2020 and have conducted over 200 educational, informative & fun workshops yet. 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!
Exercise Chat Thread
Let's share our exercise related experiences. Do you have any major challenges with exercise and diabetes? Are you fearful of hypos? What changes would you like to make to your exercise regime and in turn diabetes management? Any tips or tricks that worked for you? Any successes you might like to share with the community?
Tell us on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India. This was a Facebook group chat thread that you can read through here.
#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!
AMA + Virtual Coffee Workshop
Blue Circle community leaders & T1s Rohan & Snehal did an introduction to Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation and Ask Me Anything (AMA) for all our new members. Join their Facebook Live recording on Diabetes Support Network India with a cuppa! Click here to view the recording.
#BlueCircleWorkshops are free, online workshops on diabetes by and for people living with various types of diabetes.
Meethi Baatein
27th Facebook Live of our series called Meethi Baatein to celebrate top contributors of our community on Facebook. Ketki, living with type 1 diabetes, was in conversation with Vilas, who lives with type 1 diabetes as well. See the recording here.
Ketones & Diabetes Workshop
Join this workshop where Ashlesha and Nupur, both T1s will discuss everything about ketones and diabetes management. Also, read our blogs on ketone myths and DKA.
#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) -
CGMs & Remote Monitoring Workshop
Join this workshop where Snehal (T1 & experienced with using Glimp and the Blue Circle Diabetes app) and Karthik (parent to a T1 child & experienced with using the Tomato app for Miao Miao and the Blue Circle Diabetes app), will discuss how to sync both apps (Glimp & Tomato) and use the 'Follow' function on the Blue Circle Diabetes app for caregivers to remotely monitor blood sugars. If you are someone who uses a Libre or Libre Pro and wish to learn how to remotely track blood glucose levels for your T1 child in school or any family member or friend using a sensor, don't miss this workshop! Read all about the Blue Circle Diabetes app here. Need more info? Read about the Libre, Libre Pro, Miao Miao & highlights of our workshop on managing school and type 1 diabetes & if you have questions, post them on Diabetes Support Network India. Also, don't miss our diabetes tech playlist on YouTube.
#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) -
The time to act is now
Diabetes Awareness at school
Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation organised a School Diabetes Awareness Programme as well as a free blood sugar screening at KHS pre primary school, Pune.
We trained the school teachers and support staff on not only the symptoms of undiagnosed type 1 diabetes (see this video with Ranjit, father to 8 year old Rushil who passed away due to undiagnosed T1) but also how to handle kids with T1 as well as tips for a healthy lifestyle and type 2 diabetes prevention for themselves. Some of the staff have type 2 diabetes and some got diagnosed during the blood sugar screening and have been advised to see a medical professional. Strong teachers make strong students. Kudos to our volunteers!
Please get in touch with us on support@bluecircle.foundation if you would like to arrange similar sessions at your school or organisation. Let's make sure no child dies due to lack of a proper diagnosis.
In the news
The Quint spoke to us about how to care for friends with diabetes. Share this so everyone knows how to be a good friend to someone living with diabetes. Read the article here.
Thank you Andhra Jyothi, one of the oldest running Telugu language daily newspapers for joining our cause to talk about diabetes in India. Read the article here.
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!
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 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. Trained volunteers living with diabetes (type 1, type 2 & caregivers), speaking 7 different languages 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
Image: screenshot of how to navigate the Buddy Project helpline on the app
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 July 2023
Sound on and time to #FlipTheCalendar! The #BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar is a fun calendar featuring people living with all types of diabetes. Ft the artist and dog lover Sanskruti, who lives with 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. Once a week, we'll feature a randomly selected Sugar Detective across our platforms. Hurry!
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
