September marked 6 incredible years of Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation - six years of community, compassion & collective action.

The Spirit of September truly shone through as we expanded our school awareness program with 16 KiDS sessions across 5 schools in 3 districts, reaching 3,561 students and 135 staff. Our voices travelled far and wide from representation at the UN General Assembly in New York to UNICEF events in Pune and Mumbai. The Retinal Health in Diabetes series continued strong across Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, with Delhi & Chennai next in line! We were also featured in the press multiple times, from advocacy around the WHO Essential Medicines List to calls for a GST reduction on diabetes supplies. A month that truly captured the spirit of awareness, advocacy, and action & a celebration of 6 years of standing strong, together 💙

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!

Care for Vision: Retinal Health in Diabetes (Delhi)

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

Please note: the date has been revised to Thursday, 16th October 2025 (previously 11th October)

Register now: https://forms.gle/DQKfN75Xe9WxSJmL9

Time: 2 PM – 5 PM

Venue: Seminar Hall 1, India International Centre, New Delhi (map link)

Open to people with diabetes, families & caregivers, healthcare professionals, and government representatives. High-tea provided.

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

Join our #BlueCircleWorkshops led by and for people living with diabetes, Sunday, 5PM IST - free and open to all!

Join Ashlesha and Savita as they talk about the Blue Circle School Awareness Program and share how you can make a real difference by volunteering with us!

Tune in on Facebook Live, click here to RSVP/view!

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!‌

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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 2025 at Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation.

We had 15 online and offline events in September 2025 - see the photos below!

Glimpses from our offline meets

Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation, in collaboration with UNICEF, hosted a special event in Pune to shine a spotlight on childhood non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including diabetes, asthma, obesity & mental health.

💙 Aishwarya Sakhuja shared her inspiring journey with type 1 diabetes.
💙 The UNICEF team presented key updates and statistics.
💙 Savita highlighted Blue Circle’s community projects, school awareness programmes, and digital support tools.
💙 An insightful panel discussion, moderated by Surbhi (T1), featured Elena (child with T1D), Mini (young person with T2D), Aishwarya Sakhuja (actor & T1), Jyothsna (parent of a teen with T1D), Dr. Mangesh (UNICEF) and Dr. Sajili Mehta (Pediatric Endocrinologist).

This event took place during the Global Week for NCDs, just ahead of the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs (25 Sept) in New York, where world leaders would adopt the Political Declaration on NCDs.

✨ Together, let’s ensure no child grows up feeling invisible with an NCD!

Care for Vision: Retinal Health in Diabetes – Bengaluru Edition

On 5th Sep 2025, we hosted a multilingual, interactive workshop at Karnataka Institute of Endocrinology and Research (KIER) – uniting people with lived experience of all types of diabetes, leading doctors, and government stakeholders to tackle diabetic eye complications through early detection, awareness, and better access to care.

👏 Kudos to our patient representative speakers, Ketki & Shakeer for sharing their voices and lived experience.

This Bengaluru edition is part of our national series to protect vision and improve diabetes outcomes.

📍 Next stop: Delhi & Chennai! 🧳

Photos from our Mumbai coffee catch-up ☕

We're now 6!

Thank you to all our friends & supporters!

School Awareness Programs, Maharashtra

In September 2025, Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation reached out to schools in Pune and Satara through a collaboration with the International Diabetes Federation’s KiDS programme. Across the month, we conducted 16 engaging sessions in 5 schools, spread over 3 districts (Pune, Satara and Thane) reaching 3,561 students and 135 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:

1. Sardar Dastur Hoshang Boys High School, Pune - 1st & 3rd September

Also see the video below-

2. JSPM Cygnet Public School, Pune - 4th September

Also see the video below-

3.⁠ ⁠Sadhana English Medium School, Satara - 20th September

4.⁠ ⁠Amber International School, Thane (W) - 23rd September

5.⁠ ⁠PMC School no. 151, Pune - 25th September

UNGA, New York

Nupur Lalvani represented our community at the High Level Meeting on Non Communicable Diseases at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

She was invited to speak on how governments can maximise the impact of their health investments through a whole-of-society approach & how meaningful community engagement has shaped more effective policies, improved service uptake & ultimately delivered stronger health outcomes & value for money. Other speakers at this event were the Director General of the WHO, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, representatives & Ministers of Foreign Affairs from Japan, Georgia, Thailand, representatives & Ministers of Health from Slovenia, Kazakhstan, Columbia, Sweden, Antigua & Barbuda & other international organisations.She also spoke at other roundtables & panels on the need for embedding lived experience in policymaking & the need for accelerating early detection of cardio kidney metabolic conditions (photo credit Sarah Merians Photography). Also stay tuned for an exciting video & T1D advocacy update that ‘aligns’ with World Diabetes Day soon!For real change to happen, the voices of people with lived experience need to be front & centre.

🌍 Nupur Lalvani was live from New York at the UN General Assembly attending the High-Level Meeting on health. She’s also been speaking at several key side events.

Stay tuned for more updates & tell us in the comments: what would you like to see the Government do to better support people living with diabetes? 🇮🇳

UNICEF event, Mumbai

8-year-old Sanvi, accompanied by her parents as well as Nupur & Snehal, proudly represented our community at a special media sensitization event on childhood NCDs organised by UNICEF in Mumbai.Held in the lead-up to the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs in New York next week, the event spotlighted children’s voices through a powerful panel featuring young people living with type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, asthma, and more.Sanvi’s presence was a reminder that children with NCDs deserve awareness, support, and policies that protect their futures.

📢 GST Reform Updates

At the 56th GST Council Meeting today, 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

💡The Active Insulin feature shows you how much insulin is still working in your body. Knowing your insulin on board helps prevent insulin stacking & hypos, supports safer meal timing, reduces mental math, and gives you confidence to stay in range — easing the daily burden of diabetes management.

The Blue Circle Diabetes app just hit a major milestone — and we’re growing stronger with every update! It’s India’s first app made by and for people living with diabetes 💙PS – what’s your favourite new feature? 🥳

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 📣

The World Health Organization (WHO) has added rapid-acting insulin analogues & GLP-1 receptor agonists to the Essential Medicines List, a historic win for people with diabetes. Nupur Lalvani, spoke with Anuradha from the Indian Express about how this decision recognises modern diabetes care as a necessity, not a luxury and why India must move quickly to include these medicines in the National Essential Medicines List.

Also read the article linked here.

Big news for diabetes care! WHO has added rapid-acting insulins & GLP-1 therapies to the Essential Medicines List — a historic win for affordability & access. Pune voices Mandharr, Sandeep, Vikram & Nupur from our community in the Free Press Journal share why this matters for families across India. Read the article here.

A global media telebriefing launched a new report on financing NCDs and mental health. The findings show governments are underspending on essential NCD services and medicines, leaving millions without adequate care. The panel featuring the report author, NCD Alliance, and our own Nupur Lalvani highlighted the urgent need for stronger investment, smarter use of resources & collaboration across government, civil society & patient groups. The Indian Express spoke with Nupur to unpack what this means for India. Read the article here.

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

Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are the world’s most burdensome illnesses, in terms of both their economic and social toll. But by prioritizing early diagnosis and investment in cardio-kidney-metabolic care, policymakers can chart a new path for global health.Read more in this Devex op-ed coauthored by Nupur Lalvani, Dr. Raul Santos, Dr. Navdeep Tangri. Read it 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

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#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.

Meethi Baatein

Dive into the 48th episode of our series, Meethi Baatein, as we spotlight and celebrate the top contributors of our vibrant Facebook community. This time, join Kanak, living with T1 as she chats with top contributor Shailja, who has LADA / type 1.5 diabetes. See the video-

Living well with Type Diabetes: Workshop

Join Shyam & Rajiv as they share their experiences and insights on living well with type 2 diabetes, from lifestyle to technology.

#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.

Exercise & Diabetes : FB Chat thread

We hosted a special discussion on ‘exercise & diabetes,’ on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India where we discussed what role movement plays in your life with diabetes, was there a time you discovered a workout that really helped, or moments when exercise felt tough or overwhelming? 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!

Your morning routine? : FB Chat thread

We hosted a special discussion on ‘your morning routine,’ on our Facebook community, Diabetes Support Network - India where we discussed how you start your day with diabetes, from first blood sugar checks to breakfast choices, meds, movement, or mindful moments. 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 4500 (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!

4. Libre 1 FGM - MRP 5249 (lasts 14 days)- see the blog & video 

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

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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)

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‌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 🩵🤝

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‌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 post below to read Alka'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-‌

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A post shared by Blue Circle Diabetes (@bluecirclediabetesfoundation)

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!‌

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A post shared by Blue Circle Diabetes (@bluecirclediabetesfoundation)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Blue Circle Diabetes (@bluecirclediabetesfoundation)

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.‌

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Blue Circle Store- Relaunched!

Check out the adorable diabetes merchandise from the Blue Circle Store and order them now!‌

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#FlipTheCalendar September 2025

Sound on and time to #FlipTheCalendar! The #BlueCircleDiabetesCalendar is a fun calendar featuring nature lover Rohit who has type 3c diabetes🥇

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Blue Circle Blogs

Read our blog here. We write about everything from recipes to people's stories, technology and everything diabetes!‌‌

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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!