June Jumpstarted
Join our #BlueCircleWorkshops led by and for people living with diabetes, every Sunday, 5PM IST - free and open to all! Join our 27th episode of Meethi Baatein, our series to celebrate top contributors of our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network India. Ketki, living with type 1 diabetes will be in conversation with Vilas, who also lives with type 1 diabetes. Join the group & tune in to their chat. RSVP here to tune into the 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 June 2023 - of which we had 14 physical meets in Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Nagpur and San Diego - see the photos below!
Glimpses from our offline meets
We had an enjoyable coffee catch-up with friends in Bengaluru!
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.
We even met our friends with diabetes in San Diego, half way around the globe!
Our Delhi friends having fun at the coffee catch-up. Stay tuned for the next one!
All smiles at our Chennai coffee catch-up!
All smiles at our Mumbai coffee catch up!
Looks like some fun was had at our Chandigarh coffee catch-up!
Having a blast with dia-buddies at the Hyderabad coffee catch-up!
Friends from our Kolkata coffee catch-up!
#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!
Meethi Baatein
26th Facebook Live of our series called Meethi Baatein to celebrate top contributors of our community on Facebook. Rohan, living with type 1 diabetes, was in conversation with Neeraj, who lives with type 1 diabetes as well.
Sleep & Diabetes Workshop
Join this workshop (Instagram Live) where Nupur & Megha, both T1s, discuss sleep and its impact on diabetes management. #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 Instagram-
Foot care & Diabetes Workshop
Join this workshop where Sanskruti who lives with type 1 diabetes is in conversation with Ms Kavitha, preventive foot care specialist from Chellaram Hospital Pune. #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) -
Managing T1 in kids under 10: Workshop
Join this workshop where Rohan who lives with type 1 diabetes will moderate this interesting panel discussion on the practical aspects of managing type 1 diabetes in children under 10 years of age. Our panelists are all parents of kids who live with type 1 diabetes and are under 10 years of age: Punita (mother to Rajvi), Dinesh (father to Dhruva) and Rajan (father to Raahi). #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) -
ADA Conference, San Diego
Nupur Lalvani attended the 83rd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association conference in San Diego in the United States and represented our patient led organisation Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation. The ADA’s Scientific Sessions are the world’s largest diabetes meeting. To read Nupur's summary and takeaways from the conference for the community, read this post.
Frost & Sullivan’s Growth Council Think Tank
Frost & Sullivan’s flagship initiative, the Growth Council Think Tank recently had the inaugural launch of the Chronic Care Services Think Tank. Nupur Lalvani represented the patient community as a panelist, on the topic ‘New Product Development in Global Chronic Care: Moving From Treatment to Prevention-Bending the Curve in Chronic Care’
Diabetes Awareness at a low income settlement
At Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation we are happy to partner with the amazing folks at Gully Clinic at a diabetes awareness & screening program (cheeni kam gully meet) at a slum in Goregaon, Mumbai, India
There are many barriers to good health and they are more pronounced for some sections of society. We were glad to have this opportunity to share some practical tips.
Diabetes Awareness for low income youth
At Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation we are happy to partner with the Lighthouse Communities Foundation for a diabetes awareness program for youth from low income households in Pune, India.
According to the tenth edition of the IDF Atlas, India is one of the top three countries with the largest numbers of adults with diabetes aged 20–79 years. Also by country, India now has the highest estimated number of prevalent type 1 diabetes cases in people under 20 years of age. People from all socio economic backgrounds are susceptible to all types of diabetes and should be entitled to good health and well being.
We are 14,000 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 on FB, Diabetes Support Network India) & add people from your Facebook friend list who may benefit from a deep dive into all types of diabetes.
In the news
The monsoons are here! In the Diabetes Health Magazine, Nupur Lalvani discusses the importance of self care for people with diabetes during the rainy season.
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!
Read Sunandan's success story by clicking the post below-
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)
#BlueCircleCamp memories
Click the video below to see memories from the #BlueCircleCamp Bengaluru last year in June. See the full photo album here.
Lovely and fun memories, right from the kids dancing to the adults making and meeting old and new friends! Thank you to everyone who joined in & shout out to all our partners, volunteers and supporters as well. Stay connected with us on all our social media platforms, especially our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India for upcoming events.
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!
Love is love
Everyone has the right to live happy and healthy lives with great blood sugars, irrespective of sexual orientation. We are allies, always.
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 June 2023
Sound on and time to #FlipTheCalendar! The #BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar is a fun calendar featuring people living with all types of diabetes. Ft Ami, who had gestational (pregnancy) diabetes & now has a bonny baby 👼🥇
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
