Newsletter: Mission Driven March
March carried forward our mission driven start to the year at Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation, with a strong focus on community, awareness & advocacy 💫
From hosting 11 online and offline community events (all online workshops were themed around women's health this women's month) and continuing to build meaningful peer engagement, to expanding our school diabetes awareness programmes while also representing our community across India and globally, from Switzerland to Jaipur, Pune and Vijayawada — March has been a month of steady momentum and growing impact.
We also continued to scale our outreach through the KiDS programme, reaching over 1,000 students and staff this month alone, and more than 28,000 across Maharashtra over the past 8 months.
Here’s a look at what March 2026 looked like at Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation 💙
Come volunteer with us!
12 Districts, 57 Schools, 26,944 Students, 1127 Staff, 111 KiDS sessions 💙 Let’s continue to make a difference together!
Keep an eye out on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India & sign up https://www.bluecircle.foundation/volunteer
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!
In person counselling announcement!
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 on what you wish you knew earlier about diabetes, whether it’s about insulin, food, misconceptions, mental health, or daily management. Big or small, lessons, mistakes, tips or mindset shifts — your experience could help someone else. This is a text-only session (no video, just comments) from 9AM to 9PM IST so drop in anytime & 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!
Upcoming events
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 March 2026 at Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation.
We had 11 online and offline events in March 2026 - see the photos below!
Glimpses from our offline meets
Glimpses from #IDSRun2026 — a vibrant 3km & 5km run and Zumba session in Pune, India 🏃♂️💃
Brought together by the joint efforts of Chellaram Hospital - Diabetes Care & Multispeciality, Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation, Eris, Servier, the Adar Poonawalla Clean City initiative, ARAR Events & The Pavillion Mall, this exhilarating event was part of the 10th International Diabetes Summit, uniting our community in the spirit of health and awareness.
A special highlight — Milind Soman flagged off the run, joined participants, and spoke about the importance of fitness, inspiring everyone to keep moving.
Stay tuned for online/offline events on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network India 🌞
Photos from the run!
Photos from our Mumbai coffee catch-up ☕
Mumbai friends!
Photos from our Jaipur meet-up!
Conversations in Jaipur
School Awareness Programs, Maharashtra
In March 2026, 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 3 engaging sessions in 2 schools, reaching 976 students and 33 teachers & staff.
In the last 8 months, we covered one third of the state of Maharashtra across 12 districts, reaching 26,944 students, 1127 staff in 111 KiDS sessions over 57 schools.
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 February:
- Shree Sai English Medium School - 5th March
Photos from the school
Also see the video below-
- Acharya Shree Vijay Vallabh School - 7th March
Photos from the school
Also see the video below-
ALIGN-T1D, Basel, Switzerland
Representing India 🇮🇳 in Basel, Switzerland🇨🇭Nupur Lalvani joined global stakeholders at an ALIGN-T1D meeting working to close critical gaps in access to care for people living with type 1 diabetes in low and middle income countries. Nearly 10 million people worldwide live with T1D, yet many still face preventable loss of life due to limited access to insulin, monitoring, peer support & overall quality care.
In India too, access remains inconsistent. We need stronger, integrated, government-led systems that ensure no one is left behind 💙🌍
Photos from Basel, Switzerland
End Diabetes Stigma Summit, Jaipur
The Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation team was out in full force at the End Diabetes Stigma Summit in Jaipur, India 💪🏻💙💛 the first-ever summit focused on diabetes stigma.
Stigma continues to shape how people experience diabetes — from access to care to everyday life. Bringing lived experiences into these conversations is critical to driving real change.
Anant, Sanskruti, Savita & Nupur were speakers, with our community represented as delegates. Nupur also served on the summit steering committee.
Photos from the summit in Jaipur
10th International Diabetes Summit, Pune
A group of diabetes advocates proudly represented the Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation at the 10th International Diabetes Summit in Pune, hosted by Chellaram Hospital – Diabetes Care & Multispeciality. The conference reinforced an important principle: people living with diabetes must be actively involved in the spaces where decisions about their care are discussed — because #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs 🌟
Our community members & advocates have shared their key learnings and reflections with the wider community — find their posts on social media & our FB community – Diabetes Support Network India!
We’re also proud to share that Ravinder, Elena, Kavya & Nupur were presented with the Diabetes Empowerment Award by Milind Soman, recognising their contributions to strengthening the voice of people living with diabetes.
Photos from the Chellaram Conference, Pune
Retinal health event, Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh
Parinaaz represented our community at an expert consultation workshop on strengthening retinal healthcare at Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh where she spoke about the societal and economic impact of chronic retinal disease & the lived realities of patients and families.
The event organised by Access Health and LV Prasad Eye Institute brought together policymakers, retinal specialists, patient advocates & healthcare providers to engage in a constructive dialogue on strengthening access, financing & sustainability of retinal care in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Photos from the event in Hyderabad
Medtronic Design Thinking Workshop, Pune
Community members participated in a design thinking workshop at the Medtronic Minimed Global Capability Centre in Pune sharing lived experiences, insights & feedback from the diabetes community 💙
Which diabetes myths would you like to bust? (reel)
What diabetes myths have you heard & want to bust? 👊 We asked our community at our monthly meet & here’s what they had to say! Share yours in the comments 😊
One change you’ll make for a better A1c? (reel)
Right after our A1c workshop at the Blue Circle Community Centre in Pune, we asked our community:
What’s one small change you’ll make for a better A1c? Improving your HbA1c is about consistent, meaningful steps. Tell us yours in the comments 💙
📢 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
💡New CGM integration alert! We’ve integrated the Libre 2 CGM via the Juggluco app (Android), based on your feedback and suggestions!
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
In the News 📣
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!
Access to insulin should not depend on where you live or what you can afford. In the state of Telangana in India, people with type 1 diabetes can access free analogue (bolus & basal) insulin every month. Parinaaz has put together a practical, step-by-step guide on how to avail it. Read it here and let’s spread the word!
🎥 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!
#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 Pakistan 🇵🇰 : Workshop
Join Sobia 🇵🇰 & Snehal 🇮🇳 as they talk about living with diabetes in Pakistan - healthcare access, affordability, awareness, and everyday life across borders. As we celebrate Women’s Month this March, this session is part of Project Gaia, our initiative to create a safe, supportive space for women with all types of 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 YouTube.
Women's Day Panel : Workshop
Join Akanksha (T1 caregiver), Deepanshi (Type 3c), Shailja (LADA), Ayushi (T2), Smita (Gestational → T1D), and Rinkal (Neonatal caregiver) as they share their lived experiences across different forms of diabetes.
As we mark Women’s Day, this panel brings together diverse voices to talk about diagnosis journeys, caregiving, stigma, strength, and navigating different types of diabetes across different life stages. This session is part of Project Gaia, our initiative to create a safe and supportive space for women with all types of 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 YouTube.
Raising a daughter with T1 : FB Chat thread
We hosted a discussion on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India where we did a new year, day-long chat thread on diabetes goals in 2026. What are you hoping to work on this year, better numbers, more movement, fewer burnouts, or simply being kinder to yourself?
From health goals to mindset shifts, routines to rest, share what your 2026 looks like. Click this link to read the chat & participate.
#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!
Living with diabetes in Thailand 🇹🇭: Workshop
Join Marlena 🇹🇭 & Sanskruti 🇮🇳 as they talk about living with diabetes in Thailand - healthcare access, affordability, awareness, and everyday life across borders.
As we celebrate Women’s Month this March, this session is part of Project Gaia, our initiative to create a safe, supportive space for women with all types of 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 YouTube.
Body image & diabetes : FB Chat thread
We hosted a discussion on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India where we did a day-long chat thread on body image and diabetes - sharing experiences, challenges, insecurities, confidence, and everyday wins. As we celebrated Women’s Month this March, this session is part of Project Gaia, our initiative to create a safe, supportive space for women with all types of diabetes.
From scars and sensors to weight changes, stigma, judgements, clothing choices, and self-worth — let’s talk about what it really looks like. Click this link to read the chat & participate.
#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!
CGM updates
We promised to share an update on the Libre Pro (the cheaper CGM/FGM option, about half the price of Libre 1)- here it is -
Quick background- we have been hearing the Pro would shut down since several years now, however since no stock was made available post the Feb ‘25 expiry lot, we knew the stoppage news could be real this time. Swinging into action, we created a survey to gauge your thoughts about the situation and the increasing prices. It was filled by hundreds of our supporters and community members and 99.2% of you said you are not comfortable with the price rise at ALL.
If you would still like to share your opinion on why diabetes care should be affordable for everyone, please participate in the survey & share via this link - https://forms.gle/xyrcnXT5TE2ZE7Tw6
We formally presented these findings to the leadership at Abbott and made 2 requests - 1) don’t stop Pro, 2) Reduce sensor prices
We did not receive an explanation about the stoppage other than the Abbott leadership wants to talk to us. So we talked a few days ago hoping for a meaningful dialogue & and an understanding of the crushing out of pocket costs incurred by those living with diabetes & their families in India. Certainly it is possible to have an affordable CGM that makes business sense too, we alluded to the company.
Sadly our requests fell on deaf ears. Apparently the relatively affordable Libre Pro sensor is well on its way to being pulled out of the market for good
The company made a feeble attempt at saying they would think of some schemes for the community but upon asking for further clarification, none was made at that point in time. We will keep you posted if & when we hear any updates.
What happens next?
Hard times call for hard measures- since many of you have been asking, yes, sensors can continue to be used beyond expiry, despite it not being recommended with no chance of exchange in case of issues.
There are also a few new CGMs in the market now & we are exploring which ones can potentially match or better the pricing of the Pro sensors. Stay tuned to this space for updates.
CGM/FGM options after the Libre Pro 💡
Since the relatively affordable Abbott Libre Pro has been discontinued, here are alternative CGM options shared by Snehal in the video below, in order of lowest to highest prices-
1. Linx CGM - MRP Rs 4300 (lasts 15 days) - don't miss our review blog! Also see the video review in Hindi & English.
2. Tracky CGM - MRP Rs 3899 (lasts 14 days) - don't miss our review blog! Also see the video review & the application video.
3. iCan by Sinocare CGM - MRP Rs 5500 (lasts 15 days) - review coming soon!
Please note, Libre 1 is a Flash Glucose Monitor, whereas all others are CGMs Continuous Glucose Monitors.
Want a deep dive into diabetes technology? Read our diabetes tech blogs here and see our playlist here.
📣 In the News
People with diabetes in India are upset with the discontinuation of a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor that has been the “most affordable” option in the country. They must now pay more for alternative CGMs or revert to painful glucose meter tests. Mohit, Snehal & Nupur from Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation spoke with Eshan from the Times of India.
🔗 Read the full article.
🔗 Read the article in Sakal about the same issues. Sakal is the largest circulated Marathi newspaper in the state of Maharashtra.
🔗 Read the article in The Bridge Chronicle newspaper too.
Buddy Project Helpline turned 5 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
The Buddy Project Helpline is our mobile app based psychosocial helpline for diabetes and mental health. 9 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)
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 this post to read Yash'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.
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
Check out the adorable diabetes merchandise from the Blue Circle Store and order them now!
#FlipTheCalendar March 2026
Sound on and time to #FlipTheCalendar! The #BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar is a fun calendar featuring sweet little Alcaraz who was diagnosed with neonatal diabetes at the age of 2.5 months🥇
Blue Circle Blogs
Read our blog here. We write about everything from recipes to people's stories, technology and everything diabetes!
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.
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