Sassy September!
This weekend, Rohan and Dr Anubhav, both T1s will discuss how to manage your diabetes during the upcoming festive season - surely a challenge for most of us with the socialising, celebrations and mithai. Join our Sunday workshops as Facebook Live - free and open to all!
Stay tuned for upcoming physical events in your cities! Don't miss the chance to meet other friends with diabetes! Any questions? Ask away on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India.
IIT Bombay Half Marathon
Friends let's walk/jog/run together for our cause of diabetes at the IIT Bombay Half Marathon on Sunday October 30th 2022 in Mumbai. Race categories include 5km, 10km & 21km. To avail a discount, use the code BLUECIRCLE at check-out & let's do this together! Questions? Ask on Diabetes Support Network - India
Registrations open till 9th October. Click here to register.
New to running/exercising while living with diabetes? Read this article on 5 things to know before going out for a run. Read this article to learn the impact of different types of exercise on your blood sugars. Need a dose of motivation? Read this article to know the story of four type 1 diabetics who successfully completed the 100km Oxfam Trailwalker and made history!
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 and Facebook. Here's a quick low down on all that happened in September 2022 at Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation.
We had 3 physical events in September 2022 - in Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai.
Our coffee catch-up in Bengaluru in September 2022! Join us for the upcoming one on Saturday.
Here are some photos from the #BlueCircleRun Pune in September 2022 at the beautiful ARAI Hills.
Here are some photos from the fun coffee catch-up in Mumbai in September 2022 - the age group of our participants varied from 2 years old to about 60! Everyone's welcome!
Diabetes Awareness at the Taj (Pune)
We conducted a health, wellness and diabetes awareness session for housekeeping colleagues from across the industry at the Taj Hotels Blue Diamond Pune as part of their Housekeeping Olympiad event.
66th Annual Indian Public Health Association Conference (Pune)
We were at the 66th Annual Indian Public Health Association Conference IPHACON 2022 at Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune. The conference was about 'Digital Technology in improving Health'
Nupur was a panelist representing civil society and community based organisations & spoke about challenges patients face due the lack of Continuum of Care & how digital solutions can ensure continuum of care for all.
Blue Circle Workshops (online)
Blue Circle Workshops are online weekend workshops that are free and open for all, even non diabetics! We started these workshops in lockdown in 2020 and have conducted over 125 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 to know of upcoming workshops. Be a part of our awesome Facebook community too!
Caregivers Panel Workshop
Caregivers are the unsung heroes of our diabetes management. On the panel is Sanskruti (living with T1 & caregiver to her pre diabetic mom) who is also going to moderate the panel, Anchal (caregiver to T2 mom), Subarna (caregiver to T1 child), Harneet (caregiver to T1 child), Prabah (caregiver to T1 child) & Meera (caregiver to her T2 husband).
Click the post below to view the workshop video on Facebook Live (you can also view on YouTube here) -
Marriage & Diabetes Workshop
3 lovely couples in this panel discussion - first couple - Neeraj, who is the moderator (T1) & Swati (non diabetic), second couple- Ruchika (T1) & Arvind (T2) and third couple- Shruti and Rahul (both T1s)- all will share their experiences & challenges getting married. One of these 3 couples actually first met on our Facebook community Diabetes Support Network - India - can you guess who?
Click the post below to view the workshop video on Facebook (you can also view on YouTube here) -
Metabolic & Mental Impact of T1D: Implications for Low Carbohydrate Diets: Workshop
Nandita & Nupur are in conversation with Dr Andrew Koutnik, who is a PhD & research scientist studying the influence of nutrition & metabolism on health. All 3 live with type 1 diabetes & will discuss Metabolic & Mental Health Impact of Type 1 Diabetes: Implications of a low carb diet. Click the post below to view the workshop video on Facebook (you can also view on YouTube here) -
Exercise & Youngsters Workshop
Monika, mother to a T1 teenager & Jai, a young person living with type 1 diabetes discuss the importance & challenges associated with exercise for youngsters living with various types of diabetes. Click the post below to view the workshop video on Facebook (you can also view on YouTube here) -
Meethi Baatein
18th Facebook Live of our series called Meethi Baatein to celebrate top contributors of our community on Facebook. Sanskruti was in conversation with Akshay who lives with type 1 diabetes, see the video here.
Virtual Diabetes Awareness-Global Week for Action on NCDs
As part of the Global Week for Action on NCDs, the Healthy India Alliance & Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation organised a virtual diabetes awareness session for students, teachers & caregivers at St Mary's School, New Delhi, India. Rohan, Snehal and Nupur conducted the session; the students were very receptive & interactive and a few of them were also living with type 1 diabetes!
IDF Webinar on Physical Activity
This webinar on exercise & diabetes was organised by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Regular physical activity can help prevent type 2 diabetes. It is also a key component in the management of all types of diabetes and can improve mental health, quality of life and well-being.
Physical activity is crucial during childhood and adolescence to fight sedentary habits from an early age.The WHO Action Plan on Obesity 2018-2030 aims to reduce physical inactivity by 10% by 2025 and by 15% by 2030. In addition, the WHO Global Diabetes Compact proposes interventions on obesity, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity to prevent type 2 diabetes. These targets can only be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach that promotes the benefits of physical activity among the population and guarantees access to exercise, notably for children and adolescents. However, sedentarism levels grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, with school and work settings closed, social life disrupted and increased screen time. This event was the first of a series of IDF activities on the topic of physical activity in the lead up to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Diabetes Awareness with Rotary Club Varanasi
We were invited to speak at a Diabetes Webinar for medical students organised by the Rotary Club of Varanasi Central. We thank the very enthusiastic organisers for inviting Rohan, Snehal and Nupur as speakers and helping sensitise the future doctors of our country.
The Real Life Podcast
Diabetes advocate and long-time T1 from the US, Amber, who is the co founder at Diabetes Daily Grind, interviewed Nupur on The Real Life Diabetes Podcast, an award winning podcast available on all major platforms - Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. Listen here.
Film Screening
In association with The Human Trial & Beyond Type 1 , Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation hosted a virtual screening of the gripping new documentary called The Human Trial. Director Lisa Hepner — whose own type 1 diabetes fuels her search for a cure — becomes our bridge to the world of scientists finding a cure for diabetes.
Happy Birthday, Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation!
September is a special month- apart from being super busy doing what we do best, we also turned 3! Yay!
WE ARE 10,000 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 on the top (just below our name, Diabetes Support Network India) & add people from your Facebook friend list who may benefit from a deep dive into all types of diabetes.
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.
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)
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.
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!
Blue Circle Store- Relaunched!
Check out the adorable diabetes merchandise 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!
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.
Did you know you can save tax when you donate? NGO Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation is 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 & avail tax relief as an individual or organization: https://www.bluecircle.foundation/donate
Email support@bluecircle.foundation for queries
#CommunityCares
To participate in our social media campaigns, share your photo (with some supporting text) on the topic with us. Upload through the Blue Circle Diabetes mobile app and we'll feature you! Click the posts below to see, like and comment! Snehal launches the new campaign-
To participate in our #CommunityCares campaign, like Shaurya who is playing the dhol, submit your photo/video through the Blue Circle Diabetes mobile app & we'll share it!
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 and Twitter too! If you would like to share and contribute content upload it to the Blue Circle Diabetes app 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