Fabulous February
Join our upcoming Facebook chat thread this weekend on Diabetes Support Network India by RSVP-ing here. Join our #BlueCircleWorkshops led by and for people living with diabetes, every Sunday - free and open to all!
We have 8 (and counting) 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 and Facebook. Here's a quick low down on all that happened in January 2023 at Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation.
We had a whopping 21 online and offline events in February 2023 - of which we had 14 physical meets in Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Delhi, Kanpur, Kolkata, Pune, Lucknow, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Nashik and Chandigarh - see the photos below!
Glimpses from our offline meets
Our coffee catch-up Jaipur was fun!
We had an enjoyable #BlueCircleRun with friends in Bengaluru!
Our Pune friends clearly had a good time at the Games Bond Pune. Stay tuned to our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India for updates in all cities.
Photo from the fun coffee catch-up in Mumbai!
Our Delhi friends having a blast, as always. Stay tuned for the next one!
Our Kanpur friends had a lot of chai over charcha or was charcha over chai? Only one way to find out-join the next one!
All smiles at our Ahmedabad coffee catch-up!
Jalandhar friends painted the town red!
Our Hyderabad community is active online and offline both! Great job guys.
#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 180 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 to know of upcoming workshops. Be a part of our awesome Facebook community too!
Type 3c diabetes myths: Workshop
See this workshop on the myths & challenges about diagnosing and living with type 3c diabetes (pancreatitis), a lesser known type of diabetes. This workshop was hosted by Smita & Anant, who actually live with the same condition. #BlueCircleWorkshops are free, online workshops on diabetes by and for people living with various types of diabetes.
Click the post below to view the workshop video on Facebook (you can also view on YouTube here) -
Type 2 diabetes myths: Workshop
Join this workshop on the myths & challenges about diagnosing and living with type 2 diabetes, hosted by Ashutosh and Vikram. #BlueCircleWorkshops are free, online workshops on diabetes by and for people living with various types of diabetes.
Click the post below to view the workshop video on Facebook (you can also view on YouTube here) -
Type 1 diabetes myths: Workshop
Join this interesting panel discussion on type 1 diabetes myths. The panel has Ketki (T1), Rajiv (T1), Urvashi (T1), Ritam (caregiver to a T1), Parinaaz (T1) & Shakeer (who had T1 & had a simultaneous kidney pancreas transplant few years ago). #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) -
Type 1.5 diabetes myths: Workshop
Join this workshop on type 1.5 diabetes (LADA) myths led by Nishtha & Rohan. #BlueCircleWorkshops are free, online workshops on diabetes, by and for people living with all types of diabetes.
Click the post below to view the workshop video on Facebook (you can also view on YouTube here) -
Meethi Baatein
22nd Facebook Live of our series called Meethi Baatein to celebrate top contributors of our community on Facebook. Rohan was in conversation with Umesh (Gardener Newbie on Facebook), who lives with pre diabetes, see the video here.
Diabetes Awareness Programs
We conducted a Corporate Diabetes Awareness Programme for the team at the ITC Maratha Hotel, a luxurious five star in Mumbai. Shout-out to our fabulous volunteers and the team who did blood glucose screening and BMI measurements and last but not the least the supportive organisers for conducting this much needed session for the staff.
We also conducted a virtual Corporate Diabetes Awareness Programme for 70+ people at the multinational IT & consulting giant, Capgemini. Shout-out to our fabulous volunteers & the supportive organisers for conducting this much needed session for the team.
If you'd like to organise such a session at your school/college/office, let us know on support@bluecircle.foundation
Blue Circle at the ATTD, Berlin
Snehal represented Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation at the ATTD (Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes) conference which took place in Berlin, Germany from 22nd to 25th February 2023.
Publication in the Chronicle of Diabetes Research & Practice
Read this publication on 'A practical approach to the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes: An Indian perspective' in the CDRP, the flagship journal of the Chellaram Diabetes Institute where Nupur Lalvani was a co-author and contributed to the perspectives of patients on diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.
Read the full publication here. Suganthi K, Lalvani N, Jevalikar GS, Sarda A, Unnikrishnan AG. A practical approach to the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes: An Indian perspective. Chron Diabetes Res Pract [Epub ahead of print] [cited 2023 Feb 20]
Invite-athon contest
Congratulations to all the winners and participants on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India. Follow us on all social media platforms & stay tuned for more exciting contests!
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!
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)
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!
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.
Donate now before the financial year ends on March 31st
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!
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
