I hope everyone had a good summer and is back ready to jump into some of these diabetes community events in the coming weeks. There is a lot going on at the moment, including some type 1 diabetes meetups and some calls for research participants, so I thought I would do a moss up of meetups in this post.  

LIMERICK ADULTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES

The newly formed Limerick Adults with type 1 diabetes will have their first informal get together on Tuesday 4th September 2018 in the South Court Hotel, Raheen Roundabout, Limerick at 6:30pm.

The group does have a Private Facebook Group set up as a way to stay in touch but I assume that other methods of communicating will be something to talk about at this meet up. Here’s the link for the Facebook group and the leaders are Averil Adare, Monica Hayes, Jill Franz

GALWAY TYPE 1 DIABETES MEETUP

A couple of people from the Galway area decided to meet up also on Tuesday 4th September in The Clybaun Hotel, Knocknacarra at 7:30/8 p.m.

This meetup is being organised by Shiv Gaffney and you can contact Shiv through Facebook or Twitter or through the "Galway T1 Diabetes Support" private support group -

GALWAY PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES MEETUP

The Galway Parents group have a standing meeting every month in the The Maldron Hotel Oranmore, Galway at 8:30pm. Do contact Ger Fahy on 087 9086491 or email fahygerardine@hotmail.com for the exact date in September.

RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS NEEDED

Adults with Type 1 Diabetes interested in Diabetes Technology Location Galway, Cork & Limerick

Kate Katarzyna Gajewska, a fellow person with type 1 diabetes, is doing a research project on the barriers for adults to access insulin pumps in Ireland. Her findings have been very interesting so far and I can't wait until she publishes them.

She has arranged focus group meetings in:

• GALWAY 6th September

• LIMERICK 13th September

• CORK 17th September

Please consider attending if you are an adult with type 1 diabetes who:

1) only began using an insulin pump as an adult

2) don’t use an insulin pump but you are trying to get one

3) are using any other diabetes technology as the Libre, CGM or the DIY Loop, etc.

IF you are interested in participating please contact Kate on Email: katarzynagajewska@rcsi.ie or call/text/whatsapp 087 964 1972

PS If you can't attend this focus group but would still like to share your story, please do get in touch and she may try to arrange a phone interview.

DIABETIC RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS NEEDED

Researchers in University College Cork are looking for people who live with diabetes or have a loved one with diabetes to participate in two diabetes research projects:

If you would like to help improve uptake in attendance to Diabetic Retina Screens Contact: Fiona Riordan, fiona.riordan@ucc.ie 086 8369721

If you would like to help in how diabetes research is shaped Contact: Emmy Racine, emmy.racine@ucc.ie 086 0623851

Here's the link for more information on both projects: https://www.ucc.ie/en/esprit/takepart/

Our Thriveabetes blog will slowly get back up to speed in the coming weeks.