This week's blog post is from one of our volunteer organisers, Ken Barclay. I met Ken for the first time at Thriveabetes 2015 but we had known each other online through the online support group; Diabetes in Ireland on facebook.
Type 1 Diabetes Conference Brings Diabetes Online Community Together. Social media has been extremely beneficial and supportive to people with diabetes in Ireland. We have been connecting with others from all over Ireland through this medium and getting to know their peers online for a number of years. Thriveabetes gives this community of people living with type 1 diabetes the opportunity to meet face to face.
Thriveabetes focuses on the psychological impact of living with a lifelong, chronic illness and it aims to provide “Inspiration, Motivation and Information” to people living with type 1 diabetes, to parents of children with diabetes, to adults with type 1 diabetes, to children with type 1 diabetes and to those who love us.
The conference is being organised completely by volunteers from the diabetes community, and with the support of the national charity for diabetes; Diabetes Ireland.
Check in for this is a one-day conference will kick off at 10am on on Saturday, October 1st 2016 in The Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare. However, advance registration is required to attend and people can register for Thriveabetes through this link or email Gráinne Flynn, event organiser, for more information at Grainne@Thriveabetes.ie.
It’s the second Thriveabetes, in 2015, 190 people attended from all over Ireland. This year, we have developed a programme for children and teens with diabetes, and are expecting 300 delegates.
The speakers range from world renowned authors such as, Gary Scheiner, who wrote “Think Like A Pancreas” and Joe Solowiejczyk, author of “The Type 1 Diabetes Guide to the Universe”, both gentlemen are healthcare professionals and have lived with type 1 diabetes for over 30 and 50 years respectively, to local diabetes heroes such as Dr. Anna Clarke, Head of Research & Advocacy Diabetes Ireland and Dr. Kevin Moore, Consultant Endocrinologist Tallaght & Naas Hospitals.
We also have Ultramarathon runner, International Diabetes Federation Young Leader and person with type 1 diabetes, The DiAthlete, Gavin Griffiths, speaking to all groups and Penny Robinson, Mum of a teenager with type 1 diabetes, parent representative on the Families with Diabetes Network in the UK, and Part time Lecturer in Leeds Beckett University, United Kingdom working alongside the students on the MSc Advanced Diabetes Educator course to provide the family perspective, will talk about her journey to advocate for her daughter.
Registration for Thriveabetes will close at midnight on Thursday the 29th September. Remember advance registration is required to attend. Register for Thriveabetes through this link or email Gráinne for more information at Grainne@Thriveabetes.ie
Back in May myself and Christine were interviewed by IrishTV's Clare Matters about Thriveabetes. We talked about our own diabetes. Christine spoke a little about her diagnosis and I spoke about all the tools I use to manage my diabetes. We also mentioned how we find great support from the diabetes online community and how Thriveabetes evolved from diabetes support. But that bit got cut. It was our first telly interview; so we have some improvements to make but it's a start. Watch here; IrishTV Clare Matters June 10, 2016 Forward to 05:21
Thank you to IrishTV's Sile and Klaus.
For many years, people with diabetes have been connecting with others from all over Ireland through this medium. Thriveabetes gives this community of people living with type 1 diabetes the opportunity to meet face to face.
“Thriveabetes” is a one-day conference for people living with type 1 diabetes, or for people who care about someone with type 1 diabetes. It takes place on Saturday, October 1st 2016 in The Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare.
Registration is open now and you can read more about our speakers here.
