Newsletter: Newsworthy November
Welcome to Newsworthy November, where we spotlight incredible achievements, global representation, and inspiring initiatives from our vibrant diabetes community. This month, we celebrate impactful outreach, international collaborations, and exciting launches that bring us closer together in our shared mission. 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! Shipping begins mid-December. For bulk orders, reach out at support@bluecircle.foundation
Join our #BlueCircleWorkshops led by and for people living with diabetes, Sunday, 5PM IST - free and open to all!
Grab your cuppa & join our virtual coffee chat with Snehal & Nupur as they share highlights from the various conferences they’ve been to lately & ask them anything about diabetes!
Tune in on Facebook Live, click here to RSVP!
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!
Upcoming events, online & offline!
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 2024 at Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation. November is also a special month thanks to World Diabetes Day!
Celebrating World Diabetes Day
On 14th November, 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
Feel free to download these images & share them with the world to help spread awareness!
We had 14 online and offline events in October 2024 - of which we had physical meets in Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Jaipur- see the photos below!
Glimpses from our offline meets
Friends from our Mumbai coffee catch-up!
Smiles from our Pune low carb, potluck picnic!
Smiles from the Pune potluck picnic 😄
Friends from our Delhi coffee catch-up!
Delhi coffee catch-up!
Friends from our Jaipur dinner catch-up!
Smiles from our Bengaluru evening walk!
3 School Diabetes Awareness & Screening Programs
Did you know that India has the highest number of children & adolescents living with type 1 diabetes? Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation organized 4 School Diabetes Awareness Programmes and blood sugar screening camps for close to 800 students and school staff in November. 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 150 children & adults on 16th November at an informal school, Dada chi Shaala in an urban slum (basti) in Pune 💪💙 With the help of student volunteers, blood group testing was done for the children and adults & they were given fruits and small gifts. We tested a few adults with pre-existing type 2 diabetes & no children with elevated blood glucose readings. See the video here and photos below -
Photos from the informal slum school, Pune
We organized a School Diabetes Awareness Programme for over 300 students & adults on 11th November at the Vikhe Patil school, Pune 💪💙 See the video here and photos below -
Photos from Vikhe Patil school, Pune
We organized a School Diabetes Awareness Programme for over 300 students & staff on 14th November on the occasion of World Diabetes Day at the Orbis School, Pune 💪💙 See the video here and photos below -
Photos from the Orbis School, Pune
We organised a Diabetes Awareness Programme for school children at Delhi based NGO Harmony House, which works for street children & kids of daily wage earner families. Everyone, including young people deserve the right to good health. See the video here and photos below -
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-
Nupur joins father son duo Kunal and Suved on the Oddcast podcast to talk about the prevalence and precautions of diabetes in India. Watch the video here.
WHO Oral Health Meeting, Bangkok
Nupur represented communities & civil society at the first ever WHO Global Oral Health Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.
Oral diseases are the most common NCDs & affect over 3.5 billion people across the world. This pivotal meeting brought together health leaders and experts to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) for oral health by 2030, reaffirm political commitments, and advance the Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023–2030 in preparation for the 4th UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs in 2025— in Bangkok, Thailand. Nupur was a speaker on a high level panel with the UN & non state actors. She also spoke at a side event on diabetes & oral health bringing forth the challenges, lived experience & opportunities to advocate for people with NCDs
Photos from Thailand
ATTD Conference, Singapore
Snehal represented our community at the leading diabetes technology conference, Advanced Technologies and Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD Asia) in Singapore. Stay tuned for her updates and learnings on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network India soon!
Photos from Singapore
Diabetes Manifesto - Maharashtra Elections
Our community met with several political leaders across Maharashtra to present our Diabetes Manifesto. With the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Elections in November, it was a powerful opportunity to discuss the urgent needs of the diabetes community. See the photos from 5 such meetings-
Photos of our amazing community who met with various political leaders across Maharashtra to handover our Diabetes Manifesto
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! Nupur Lalvani reviews Urban Platter's Shirataki noodles, a low-carb, blood sugar-friendly alternative to regular noodles. Discover how she incorporates them into her meals, along with some pros and cons, including tips for adding protein and thoughts on the cost. Read the blog here and 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.
AMA & Virtual Coffee: Workshop
Join our AMA (Ask Me Anything) & virtual coffee with Snehal & Nupur on #BlueCircleWorkshops & ask or share anything related to diabetes!
#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)
Review of insulin pumps in India: Workshop
Join Indrayani, using the hybrid closed loop Medtronic 780G as she moderates this discussion with Ovi (using a Ypsomed insulin pump) and her dad & Sanjana, using a Medtronic 720G. Our panelists will be reviewing the various insulin pumps available in the Indian market right now.
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)
Beyond Labels-Uniting T1s & T2s: Panel
Join this World Diabetes Day special panel, moderated by Gilmerio (T1D) & our panel, Hiral (T1D) & Shoeb (T2D) as they explore life beyond labels and the common ground in managing & advocating for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
#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 42nd episode of our series, Meethi Baatein, as we spotlight and celebrate the top contributors of our vibrant Facebook community. This time, join Ashlesha, living with T1 as she chats with top contributor Sonal, who is a caregiver to her husband with pre-diabetes! Their shared experiences, insights, and stories promise to resonate with many. See the recording here.
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 November 2024
Sound on and time to #FlipTheCalendar! The #BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar is a fun calendar featuring people living with all types of diabetes. Featuring foodpreneur Anant Goswami, who has type 3c 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.
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