July Journal
Have you heard of or encountered body shaming as a person with any type of diabetes? Have you had people commenting on how you look (too fat, too skinny or any other hurtful comments on physical features)? Let's share our experiences & discuss how to deal with such interactions this weekend through Project Gaia on #BlueCircleWorkshops. Register now!
Here's a quick low down on all that happened in July 2021 at Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation.
Blue Circle Workshops & Events
Blue Circle Workshops are online weekend workshops that are free and open for all, even non diabetics! Join in, have fun and learn new things. Sign up as a member and follow our social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube to know of upcoming workshops. Be a part of our Facebook community too!
Cardiovascular disease & Diabetes Workshop
Click the post below to read highlights from our workshop on CVD and diabetes where Rohan and Nupur were in conversation with cardiologist Dr S Venkatesh.
Project Gaia Workshop
We spoke about 'What Women Want' and you can see the happy smiles in the post below! At Project Gaia, our initiative is to create a safe space for women living with diabetes.
Zumba Workshop
Click the post below to see snippets from our Zumba workshop led by Ketaki who lives with type 1 diabetes herself and is a Zumba and folk fitness instructor.
Sick Day Management Workshop
We have always believed that language barriers should not come in the way of effective diabetes self management for anyone. Click the post below to know how to manage a sick day along with your blood sugars (Hindi and English).
Meethi Baatein
Fourth Facebook Live of our series called Meethi Baatein to celebrate top contributors of our community on Facebook. Nupur was in conversation with Jitin, see the video here.
Project Isha
Through Project Isha, we want to reach out to economically and socially disadvantaged people living with diabetes in India. We aim to relieve the financial burden of living with diabetes and fill the gaps of diabetes education. In this way we want to contribute to making successful diabetes management a reality for all. Since effective diabetes management requires access to money or other unevenly distributed resources, we plan to follow a multi pronged approach of providing medication such as insulin, tools such as glucometers, strips, syringes, pens etc as well as one-on-one weekly mentoring by volunteers (in local languages). Read more about how to get involved.
Reminder - Vaccination Drive for people with diabetes
In collaboration with Chellaram Hospital - Diabetes Care & Multi speciality Pune, NGO Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation is happy to launch a vaccination drive at Chellaram Hospital in Pune for people with all types of diabetes to help them get vaccinated more easily. Getting vaccinated against Covid 19 is especially important for people with all types of diabetes since they are at risk for worse outcomes if they contract Covid.
Eligibility : anyone who is eligible to take the vaccine and lives with any type of diabetes. CoWin registration is mandatory (if you are not able to do it, the hospital will try and help you)
Process: Open the Blue Circle Diabetes app, click on 'Vaccination Drive', select a date, press 'Confirm' and book your slot. Once successfully booked you will receive a confirmation email from support@bluecircle.foundation. There will be 20 slots opened for each day, so book quickly. The time slot for vaccination is 2-3PM so ensure you reach on time carrying your Aadhar card. Pay Rs 780 as vaccination charges directly at the hospital.
Save tax when you donate!
NGO Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation is now registered under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act. See our website & social media for our work & various projects in diabetes awareness and advocacy across India. Your support helps us support the diabetes community & help those who cannot help themselves
Donate now & avail tax exemption as an individual or organization: https://www.bluecircle.foundation/donate
Low Carb Recipe Contest Winners
We ran an amazing low carb recipe contest on our Facebook community. Our winners won gift hampers from low carb brand ADOR and all participants got certificates! Stay tuned for upcoming contests!
The Sugar Diaries
In The Sugar Diaries Ep:10, Snehal & Nupur are in conversation with obstetrician & gynaecologist Dr Nina Mansukhani, about planning a pregnancy with (different types of) diabetes. This video is part of Project Gaia, our initiative to empower women living with diabetes.
Click below to see the video & feel free to share with those it may benefit.
Success Stories
We are overjoyed when folks from our diabetes community set and smash their health goals with the support of the community! We want to celebrate your wins and success stories and be your cheerleaders! Read their strategies and tips on our posts about them on Blue Circle's social media platforms.
Find us on Clubhouse!
We are on the Clubhouse app too! Click here and become a member!
We are growing!
We want to thank YOU for making our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India a supportive & helpful family, now 6000+ strong. You have helped us keep this space clean & kind for people with all types of diabetes to share their experiences & questions. Add your friends and family to our Facebook family & be a part of the country's largest growing diabetes network!
Buddy Project Helpline
The Buddy Project is our mobile app based psychosocial helpline for diabetes and mental health. 12 trained volunteers (type 1, type 2 & caregivers), speaking 9 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)
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
Check out the adorable, diabetes inspired stickers and magnets from the Blue Circle Store and order them now!
Blogs
Read our blog here. We write about everything from recipes to people's stories, technology and everything diabetes!
August campaign : #DiabetesMyths
To participate in our social media campaigns, share your video or photo (with some supporting text) on the topic with us. Upload through the Blue Circle Diabetes mobile app and we'll feature you! Our latest campaign is #DiabetesMyths - where we would love to hear all the diabetes myths that you may have encountered and how you reacted to them.
Connect with us and participate!
Join our Facebook community, like and follow our page, subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow us on Instagram and Twitter too! If you would like to share and contribute content upload it to the Blue Circle app and don't forget to check out our website and free 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
