November Notes
Join our #BlueCircleWorkshops led by and for people living with diabetes, Sunday, 5PM IST - free and open to all! This Sunday, join Nupur as she chats with Jerry Gore, a professional expedition mountaineer and ex Royal Marine from the UK. Jerry is unique for being the only person with type 1 diabetes to pioneer new routes on six continents! RSVP here to tune into their Facebook Live.
World Diabetes Day
On November 14th, marked as World Diabetes Day, we honour the incredible diversity and resilience within our diabetes community. Each story, every challenge overcome, represents a unique journey of strength and courage. Together, we're not just managing different types of diabetes; we're thriving in spite of it. Let's continue to support, inspire, and empower each other. Here's to the fighters, the survivors, and the champions who make our community so wonderfully diverse and resilient.
Ravinder features in an IDF video
Spotlight on Ravinder, our community member living with type 2 diabetes and complications is featured in a video by the International Diabetes Federation on World Diabetes Day. Discover the crucial role of access to correct information and care in helping those with all types of diabetes manage and potentially prevent complications. Watch, learn, and understand why it's so important to #KnowYourRisk
Arvind features in a WHO story
The experience of people with all types of diabetes needs to be heard! Dive into the story of our community member, Arvind, living with type 2 diabetes, featured by the World Health Organization on World Diabetes Day. Read his journey here.
Nupur as a panelist in a fireside chat
Nupur recently contributed as a panelist in a Fireside Chat by the Access to Medicine Foundation, focusing on holistic access to diabetes care in Low and Middle Income Countries on World Diabetes Day. The discussion explored the pressing challenges and strategies to improve access to essential care products like insulin and glucose monitors. Watch this important dialogue on improving global diabetes care by clicking the video below-
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!
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 November 2023 at Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation.
We had 13 online and offline events in November 2023 - of which we had 9 physical meets in Pune, Kanpur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chandigarh, Vadodara - see the photos below!
Glimpses from our offline meets
Our Pune friends clearly had a good time at the Blue Circle low carb potluck picnic. Stay tuned to our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India for updates in all cities.
Our Delhi friends also had a low carb potluck picnic. Stay tuned for the next one!
Looks like some fun was had at our Ahmedabad coffee catch-up!
Friends from our Chandigarh coffee catch-up!
Friends from Mumbai had an interesting Zumba workshop! Check out the video highlights below-
Friends from our Kanpur chai pe charcha!
Friends from our Bengaluru coffee catch-up!
Friends from our Hyderabad coffee catch-up!
School Diabetes Awareness
Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation organised a School Diabetes Awareness Programme at Delhi Public School, Gurgaon in October 2023.
Everyone, including young people deserve the right to good health. Kudos to our team for organising this!Anyone who wants to write to their school/college/office to conduct a diabetes awareness program through Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation can click this link, download the letter format on your laptop/PC, edit the letter, download as PDF and email your institution. Keep us cc'd on support@bluecircle.foundation
#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!
Festivals & Diabetes: Workshop
The festive season is upon us! As we dived into the joys of Divali, marked by celebrations, sweets, and indulgences, the challenge of understanding and managing diabetes came to the forefront. This workshop is designed to equip individuals with the tools they need to sail through the festivities, ensuring optimum health. Join Ashlesha, living with type 1 diabetes, and Anupama, a mother supporting her T1 son, as they offer valuable insights, share delectable low-carb recipes, and recount their personal journeys to strike a harmonious balance between festivity and health.
Want to know more about low carb? Read all our low carb blogs and see our low carb playlist on YouTube. Also check out our diabetes tech 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) -
India Diabetes Dialogues; voices from the north, south, east and west: Workshop
On the eve of World Diabetes Day, moderators Sanskruti (T1D) & Karthik (father to a T1 daughter) had a discussion with panelists from different parts of the country; Rajiv (North, T1D), Senthil (South, LADA), Ravinder (West, T2D) & Atul (East, LADA) for a pan-Indian diabetes dialogue, celebrating diverse experiences across the nation.
Want to dive into older workshops? See our #BlueCircleWorkshops 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) -
Diabetes Disclosures: Chat Thread
We're focusing on personal stories and asking you to share how you disclosed your diabetes diagnosis to those around you for the first time.
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!
Meethi Baatein
Dive into the 31st episode of our series, Meethi Baatein, as we spotlight and celebrate the top contributors of our vibrant Facebook community. This time, join Ketki, living with type 1 diabetes as she chats with top contributor & low carber Isha, also living with type 1 diabetes. Their shared experiences, insights, and stories promise to resonate with many. See the recording here.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi
Exciting News! Nupur Lalvani & Rohan, our passionate advocates, represented the patient voice via Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation at the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare's Multistakeholder Meeting in New Delhi in November. Their insights were crucial in the discussion about boosting the Government of India’s 75/25 initiative. This ambitious program aims to screen and provide standard care for 75 million people with hypertension and diabetes by 2025. Their commitment to shaping healthcare policies is truly inspiring and essential for real change!
Bellagio Convening on UHC, Italy
Nupur attended the Bellagio Convening at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Centre, Italy, representing community voices and civil society. This crucial meeting gathered key decision-makers to bolster the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) movement. There, they reviewed progress and strategized for an enhanced UHC approach in line with current global health discussions and challenges. With a commitment to advancing health for all, they continue to push towards the 2030 goals.
In the news
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
#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!
Perfect for your desk, or as an inspiring gift for family and friends! Meet our 12 amazing calendar stars living boldly with various types of diabetes. Shipping begins mid-December! For bulk orders, reach out at support@bluecircle.foundation
Grab yours TODAY: 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 posts below to read and comment.
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 November 2023
Sound on and time to #FlipTheCalendar! The #BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar is a fun calendar featuring people living with all types of diabetes. Ft Prashant who loves cycling, gymming & lives with type 3c diabetes (secondary 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
