Featured Newsletter

Newsletter: Newsmaker November

by Nupur Lalvani 6 days ago 25 min read

November was powerful, packed & full of Blue Circle magic! World Diabetes Month brought community, connection, and impact at every turn. From 5 countries joining our online “Living with Diabetes” workshops (UK, UAE, Japan, Philippines, and India), to fun, relatable Facebook chat threads on festival wins/woes and diabetes-friendly grocery finds, our online community stayed active!

Offline, our reach grew wider than ever with walks, coffee meets in Pune, Mumbai and Dehradun, a special World Diabetes Day event in Imphal, and our School Diabetes Awareness Programme scaling across 5 districts in Maharashtra, 20 KiDS sessions spread over 7 schools, reaching 4,211 students and 189 staff.

Our advocacy travelled across continents with Blue Circle represented in Istanbul, Manila, and Dehradun, and the IDF KiDS-BCDF collaboration was proudly showcased at ISPAD 2025 in Montreal. Back home, we joined an international mental health & suicide prevention conference in Pune, contributed to the CGM white paper

The media spotlight stayed bright too, with coverage in Indian Express, Economic Times Pharma, The Hindu BusinessLine, Mid-Day, and widespread reporting on retinal health in Delhi.

November showed us, once again, what we can achieve together 💙 Enjoy this newsletter!

Care for Vision: Retinal Health in Diabetes (Jaipur)

Join us for a free in-person workshop on protecting your eyes while living with diabetes. Learn from leading healthcare professionals, hear real stories, and understand your risks.

📌 Register now: https://forms.gle/C42n5H6CUd2EEEFn8

🗓️ Thursday, 18th Dec, 2025 | 🕙 2PM – 5PM

📍 Library Seminar Hall, SMS Hospital, Jaipur (map link here)

🎯 Open to people with diabetes, families & caregivers, healthcare professionals & government representatives

🍱 High-tea provided

📚 Got questions? Ask on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India

📚 Please note, we will only confirm people who register by filling this form. Once you fill the form, expect a WhatsApp confirmation. If for some reason, you are unable to make it for the event after receiving our confirmation, please let us know (support@bluecircle.foundation) so we can share your seat with the next person in line.

Announcement - Blue Circle Calendar 2026

We're thrilled to unveil our 7th edition of the #BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar for 2026!

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

In-Person Peer Counselling in Pune!

We’re bringing the Buddy Project Helpline offline in Pune!

Now you can meet experienced peer counsellors from the Blue Circle community face-to-face for 1:1 conversations, guidance, and support whether you live with any type of diabetes or care for someone who does.

Choose your buddy in the Blue Circle Diabetes App - read their bio, check their availability, and book your slot in just a few taps! Available only at our Pune Community Centre, see the location on Google Maps.

Peer-to-peer support for people living with diabetes & their families. Download the Blue Circle Diabetes app & book your appointment today!

Join our #BlueCircleWorkshops led by and for people living with diabetes, all Sundays - free and open to all!

Join us for a special day long thread on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India where we share practical tips for managing diabetes during winter. From cold weather insulin behaviour to staying active when it’s chilly, let’s exchange what works for each of us. This is a text-only session (no video, just comments) from 9AM to 9PM IST — drop in anytime and add your voice! Open to ALL!

Tune in on Facebook, click here to RSVP!

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!‌

‌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 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 2025 at Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation.

We had 16 online and offline events in November 2025 - see the photos below!

Glimpses from our offline meets

Conversations about everything from Pune’s trees to diabetes tips with our friends with all types of diabetes 🌞 🏃🏻‍♀️ Stay tuned for online/offline events on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network India.

Photos from our Mumbai coffee catch-up ☕

Photo from our Dehradun coffee catch-up ☕

💙✨ World Diabetes Day in Imphal! We kicked off a diabetes awareness & screening programme to support awareness & early diagnosis for the community in Manipur. We’re proud to take this movement across India 🇮🇳

School Awareness Programs, Maharashtra

In November 2025, Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation reached out to schools in the state of Maharashtra through a collaboration with the International Diabetes Federation’s KiDS programme. Across the month, we conducted 20 engaging sessions in 7 schools, spread over 5 districts reaching 4211 students and 189 teachers & staff members.

These sessions aimed to bring diabetes education into classrooms, reduce stigma, and promote healthy lifestyles & helping young people better understand type 1 diabetes while addressing preventable risk factors for type 2. The programme is undertaken in partnership with the International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) and supported by an educational grant from Sanofi.

👉 Want to make a difference? Write to us at support@bluecircle.foundation to arrange similar sessions at your school or organisation. Interested in volunteering? Watch for calls in our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network India.

See below updates from the various schools we reached in September:

SG Barve Nagar Secondary High School, Mumbai - 4th October

Also see the video below-

Vadzire English Medium School, Parner Taluka, Ahilyanagar District - 8th November

Also see the video below-

3.⁠ ⁠St Anne's High School, Pune - 11th November

Also see the video below-

CS Bhujbal Global School, Shikrapur village - 13th November

Also see the video below-

Holy Family Convent School, Igatpuri, Nashik District - 18th November

Also see the video below-

2 schools - Sharwil School of excellence, Neral & Sharwil Global School, Kalamb, Raigad District - 24th November

Photos from 2 schools in Raigad district

Also see the video below-

Advocates capacity building workshop, Turkey

Nupur Lalvani represented the community at an advocates’ capacity building program in Istanbul, Turkey 🇹🇷 Proud to bring the voices of people living with all types of diabetes, alongside advocates from across all health conditions to the global stage.

Photos from the workshop in Istanbul, Turkey

Event by the Govt of Uttarakhand, Dehradun

Snehal represented Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation at the World Diabetes Day event in Dehradun, hosted by the Government of Uttarakhand NCD Department 💙 The state shared progress from GUBARA Clinics and plans to scale up quality T1D care.

Global Patients Congress, Manila

In Manila, the Philippines, Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation had the opportunity to contribute to an important conversation at the IAPO Global Patients Congress. Nupur Lalvani, moderated a powerful session on Making Universal Health Coverage work for patients’ real needs.As a community-led organisation working at the intersections of UHC, NCDs and lived experience, it was energising to see global voices echo a shared truth: UHC must be people-centred or it isn’t UHC at all.

Key reflections from the session:

• Patients are not passive beneficiaries, we are co-designers of stronger, more responsive health systems.

• Financing, access and quality must reflect real-world realities, especially for chronic and lifelong conditions like diabetes.

• Civil society and patient-led groups are essential for accountability, bringing perspectives and solutions institutions cannot deliver alone. Blue Circle remains committed to supporting health systems that listen, adapt, and truly include the communities they serve.

Mental health & suicide prevention conference, Pune

Proud to have Savita represent Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation at an international conference on mental health & suicide prevention in Pune. Our voice, our community 💙

Given the strong intersection between diabetes and mental health, from emotional distress & burnout to stigma, depression, and the heightened risk of suicidal ideation — our lived experience perspective is essential. We’re grateful for platforms that recognise the importance of patient voices in shaping conversations around wellbeing and support.

ISPAD, Montreal

Proud moment! The IDF KiDS pilot in Maharashtra, India implemented with Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation, was highlighted at the ISPAD 2025 Conference in Montreal, Canada, showing the impact of community-led diabetes education in schools 💙

Photo from the event in Montreal where we were virtually represented

Asia-Pacific CGM White Paper

The Asia-Pacific CGM White Paper is out & we’re proud that our community had a voice at the table. Nupur Lalvani contributed to the paper & spoke at the launch event, bringing a patient-centred perspective from India on why CGM access and affordability must be prioritised in a country with one of the world’s largest diabetes populations.This is especially critical in resource-limited public systems and evolving health coverage environments, where advancing CGM reimbursement remains a major challenge.

The White Paper highlights four key recommendations for countries in the region:

1. Prioritise CGM reimbursement for vulnerable groups first, especially people with type 1 diabetes

2. Explore PPPs and private insurance collaborations to pilot and fund CGM programmes

3. Strengthen diabetes registries to generate local evidence and guide targeted CGM rollout

4. Set clear clinical guidelines to ensure safe, effective use of CGM before and after reimbursementWe hope this accelerates progress toward CGM access for everyone in India who needs it!

FIND Lunch & Learn session

On World Diabetes Day, the Geneva based FIND team invited Nupur Lalvani to be part of a virtual Lunch & Learn session in the lived experience panel discussion. Nupur spoke about the theme of this year's WDD, which is Diabetes & Well-being with a special focus on managing diabetes at workplaces.

Meeting young people with T1, Nityaasha, Pune

Nupur, Ashlesha & Radhika from Blue Circle were invited to speak to the young people living with type 1 diabetes from Nityaasha, in Pune. They discussed everything from starting college while balancing T1D to telling colleagues about T1D at a new workplace — honest, relatable conversations the community needs.

📢 GST Reform Updates

At the 56th GST Council Meeting in September 2025, the Government of India announced important health-related tax reductions:

✅ Health & life insurance GST reduced from 18% → 0%
✅ Glucometers & test strips GST reduced from 12% → 5%

This is a welcome step toward making healthcare more affordable. At Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation, we will continue to advocate for reductions on other essential diabetes care items too. Access and affordability for all 💙

New App Feature

💡Introducing Food & Diabetes Search — now you can look up any food to understand its impact on your blood sugar! See carbs, protein, fat, fibre, glycemic index, and more at https://www.bluecircle.foundation/food

Running the app takes ongoing effort and resources — if it’s been helpful to you and you’d like to support others who use it for free, consider a small recurring donation of ₹99:
👉 https://www.bluecircle.foundation/donate

Screenshot from the food and diabetes search

In the News 📣

Our Retinal Health in Diabetes workshop (Bangalore, Sep 5) was featured in a few newspapers 📰 The event united people with lived experience, doctors & govt stakeholders to push for early detection & access to eye care 💙

Screenshots from the media coverage for the event

On World Diabetes Day, The Indian Express featured Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation’s work on how peer support groups help people with (type 1 & other types of) diabetes thrive beyond just insulin & carb counts. Savita, Ovi, Aastha & Nupur spoke about the power of community & why support is as essential as medicine in diabetes care. Read the article here.

On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, Economic Times Pharma takes a look at the role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the Indian landscape & how newer formulations are influencing patient care, treatment approaches, & ongoing concerns around costs & access raised by patient advocates. Quotes from our very own Dinyar, Vijendra, Chanchal, Priya, Akshay, Snehal & Nupur from Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation. Read the article online here.

As anti-obesity/diabetes drugs flood the market, concerns grow around the access, affordability & side effects. The Hindu BusinessLine quotes Dinyar, Snehal & Nupur, voices from Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation on why community-driven conversations on obesity and diabetes matter now more than ever. Read the article online here.

India has the highest number of children with type 1 diabetes and families continue to face late diagnosis, unaffordable insulin and weak support systems. Mid-day speaks to Nupur Lalvani from Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation, highlighting this urgent issue. Read the article online here.

🎥 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-

🚀 Inhaled Insulin Afrezza – Coming soon to India!

Hear Nupur’s experience with Afrezza, the ultra-fast inhaled insulin by Cipla! 💨 Got questions or want a detailed workshop on it? Let us know in the comments or post in our FB community – Diabetes Support Network India!

New Blog Alerts!

GLP-1s are in the spotlight worldwide but what do they mean for people living with diabetes in India?

Nishtha & Snehal share their lived experiences with these much-talked-about medicines. From managing blood sugars to navigating side effects and affordability, their stories reveal the real-world impact of GLP-1s. Read more on our blog.

🎥 Wondering how to apply the Tracky CGM? Nupur shows you how in this quick video! Tracky is one of the CGM options now available in India. Read the blog here & see videos below on how to apply Tracky & as well as a video review.

Not cured. Not reversed. Just somewhat in control.” Sameer Gujral shares his unfiltered journey with type 2 diabetes & finding balance & community. Read the blog.

A real-world review of Provilac’s High-Protein Milk by Shankar — taste, blood sugar impact, and whether it fits into diabetes management.

Read the full blog here. Have you tried it yet? Tell us in the comments or on our Facebook group, Diabetes Support Network India!

2 dads from the Blue Circle community, Harjot & Vikram, whose young children have type 1 diabetes, share their detailed review of the Linx CGM.

Read the blog here & see the videos in Hindi & English below-

Blue Circle 🔵 Diabetes Myth Busters ✋

Blinking exercises do not cure diabetic retinopathy 🙄 What other myths would you like to see busted? 👊

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? 👊

Sunflower lanyard

🌻 Heard of the sunflower lanyard for hidden disabilities? Nupur breaks it down — what it is, where to get one, and how it can help people living with diabetes and other invisible conditions at airports & other places!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Blue Circle Diabetes (@bluecirclediabetesfoundation)

#BlueCircleWorkshops (online)

Did you know that since the onset of COVID-19, every Sunday we've consistently hosted over 250 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.

Living with diabetes in the UK & UAE: Workshop

Living with diabetes can look very different depending on where you are in the world. Join Abhilasha (parent to a T1 toddler from Dubai 🇦🇪) & Liva (T1 from the UK 🇬🇧) as they share real-life experiences, healthcare systems, and daily realities of managing diabetes in their countries.