September Serenity
Join our #BlueCircleWorkshops led by and for people living with diabetes, every Sunday, 5PM IST - free and open to all! This Sunday, join Nupur Lalvani as she engages in conversation with American board certified internal medicine doctor & endocrinologist, Dr. Sona Abraham, who dives deep into the nexus of metabolic disease, emotional wellness, and mental health. RSVP here to tune into their Facebook Live.
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 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 September 2023 at Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation.
We had 17 online and offline events in August 2023 - of which we had 13 physical meets in Pune, Kanpur, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Indore, Lucknow and Mapusa - see the photos below!
Glimpses from our offline meets
Our Pune friends clearly had a good time at the Blue Circle martial arts workshop led by our T1 champ Payal. Stay tuned to our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India for updates in all cities.
Our Delhi friends having fun over coffee. Stay tuned for the next one!
Looks like some fun was had at our Ahmedabad coffee catch-up!
Friends from our Jaipur coffee catch-up!
Friends from our Chandigarh 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!
Diabetic Retinopathy: Workshop
Ashlesha, who lives with type 1 diabetes was in conversation with T1 parent & ophthalmologist Dr Kuldeep Dole about retinopathy, which is a diabetes related complication caused largely due to prolonged elevated sugars. Tune in to see what it is and how to avoid it. Read our blog on diabetic retinopathy.
#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) -
Telling people I have diabetes: Workshop
Ramaa, 16 and Manisha, 24, both live with type 1 diabetes. They discuss the challenges faced by young people living with diabetes, how they tell people around them that they have diabetes and how they navigate the stigma and still remain ‘cool teenagers'. 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) -
Meethi Baatein
29th Facebook Live of our series called Meethi Baatein to celebrate top contributors of our community on Facebook. Ketki, living with type 1 diabetes, was in conversation with Anupama, who is a caregiver to her son with type 1 diabetes. See the recording here.
Low Carb in Latin America & India: Workshop
Learn how low carb strategies can positively impact your well-being and help manage diabetes effectively with experts from Latin America, Lucía Feito Allonca & India, Nupur Lalvani, both living with type 1 diabetes. Low carb is for everyone, everywhere. Want to know more about low carb? Read all our low carb blogs and see our low carb 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 Awareness at a prison
Friends from Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation ventured into Yerwada Central Jail, Pune, India, underlining our commitment to serve marginalized communities, including those in correctional facilities. Every citizen's fundamental right to health remains paramount.
With this spirit, we organized a diabetes awareness program and offered free blood glucose screening for the inmates, medical officers, and staff.The range of sugar levels we observed was significant, from as low as 54 mg/dl to as high as 395 mg/dl. Approximately 15% of the men tested showcased elevated sugar levels. While some were already aware and were on prescribed medications like metformin or insulin, others were confronted with this information for the first time. We cherish every opportunity to uplift and provide for sections of society that are often sidelined.
Global Digital Health Summit, Mumbai
Snehal represented the Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation community at the Global Digital Health Summit 2023 in Mumbai and spoke on Diabetes in the Digital Era as part of the session on Patients as Partners in Digital Health.
Award of Excellence, Mumbai
Nupur was awarded the Certificate of Excellence as a Diabetes Educator for her outstanding contribution for improving the lives of people with diabetes in India at the Diabetes Research & Solutions conference in Mumbai.
APPISx India Summit, Mumbai
Nupur Lalvani was invited to speak at the APPISx India 2023 Summit in Mumbai, an event organized by Novartis. This global summit aims to bring together healthcare stakeholders from the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa to address healthcare challenges and improve patient outcomes. The focus of this event was on sharing localized knowledge and building capabilities, particularly for cardiovascular and oncology patient organizations and leaders in India.
During the summit, Nupur talked about Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation's advocacy efforts. She highlighted the importance of having an online presence for effective communication and outreach. Her presentation provided actionable insights, complementing the event's broader objectives of enhancing healthcare access and patient outcomes.
PULSE training programme, Dubai
Rohan represented Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation this week in Dubai at the Patient Union for Learning and Support Engagement training programme by Boehringer Ingelheim. The programme aimed to enhance capability building, strategic visioning, and collaborative co-creation with patient organizations from India, Turkey, Middle East & Africa.
United Nations General Assembly, New York
Nupur took Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation to the international stage this September, advocating for communities at the United Nations General Assembly in New York 🗽by participating in the High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage at the United Nations 🇺🇳 & elevating our voices at 4 high level side events organised by international organisations and governments🎙️ Your voice matters, and together, we're ensuring it's heard far and wide! 🗣️💙 Join us in this movement! 🌟 🇺🇳 Dive into the details and relive her experiences through her in-depth post here on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India.
The Junk Push, New Delhi
Rohan represented Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation in Delhi as a speaker, shedding light on the surge of ultra-processed food consumption and the aggressive advertising behind it. The event unveiled the "The Junk Push: Rising Ultra Processed Food Consumption in India-Policy, Politics and Reality" and the National Consultation for an effective policy response and was part of a coalition of health advocates led by BPNI and NAPi. Together as a diabetes community, we stand firm against the onslaught of ultra-processed foods and their promotion.
Blue Circle Turns 4!
We're having some low carb ice cream to celebrate our 4th anniversary. Tell us what you're eating!
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 September 2023
Sound on and time to #FlipTheCalendar! The #BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar is a fun calendar featuring people living with all types of diabetes. Ft poet, designer, painter & photographer, Rohan who lives with type 1 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
