Thriveabetes; A first of its kind event in Ireland

I met Christine Meehan in 2008 when a small number of us decided to start a type 1 support group in Co. Clare. We have been friends since day one. Christine has two grown up children and a dog and is currently on an internship with Focus Ireland. She is also completing BA degree in Community and Family Studies in NUIG. 

In 2012, she completed a 

200 foot abseil down the side of the 

Clarion Hotel in Limerick to raise money for Diabetes Ireland and has completed a number of

Clare 10Ks. 

If that wasn't enough "giving back to the community", she also volunteers with Childline, Clare Youth Service and Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland.

I recently asked her to tell us why she wants to be a part of organising Thrive-abetes and what she wants to get out of it for herself.

Christine; “I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes 9 years ago when I was in my 30’s which left me feeling shell shocked. Before this I took my health for granted. There was so much that I had to take in and try to understand it was overwhelming.

While trying to find out as much as I could about Type 1 Diabetes I started to attend a support group which I found so helpful, getting out and meeting other people with the disease and sharing our experiences. Living with Type 1 Diabetes can be a daily struggle, juggling all the different elements that have an effect on my blood glucose levels can sometimes leave me feeling alone and frustrated.

I try to learn as much as I can about Type 1 Diabetes and how best to deal with it because I feel being armed with good information makes it easier to make informed decisions on controlling my blood glucose levels and good health. 

Last year. I attended a conference in the UK on Type 1 Diabetes which I found really beneficial. Meeting others with Type 1 Diabetes and their families and the talks that went on throughout the conference were all so relevant.

That is why when my friend, Gráinne, asked if I would be interested in getting involved in trying to run a similar conference in Ireland I was completely on board.  I believe that Thrive-abetes is an amazing opportunity to meet people with Type 1 Diabetes and gaining knowledge and life experiences along with listening to highly renowned and motivational speakers is so worthwhile for my own self-care. The Thrive-abetes conference will be the first of its kind in Ireland and will hopefully become a regular event."  

Thanks Christine.

Thrive-abetes: A Fantastic Opportunity!

I asked some of the people with Type 1 who have been helping out with organising Thrive-abetes to tell me why they got involved and what's in it for them.

The first person to get back to me was Davina Lyon. Davina Lyon, lives in Co. Kildare. She and John O’Reilly are the founders of the Diabetes T1 Ireland website and facebook page, which is aimed at providing information and support to people living with type 1 diabetes.

Davina has been a tremendous help in making Thrive-abetes happen. This is what she said when I asked her why she wants to be a part of it and what she wants to get out of Thrive-abetes for herself.

Davina;

"My diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes was an enormous shock. I was not a child, nor a young adult. I was in my 50's! I did not fit the profile at all.

My life with type 1 Diabetes is a constant daily challenge to maintain a blood glucose balance and there are so very many things that can interfere with this. Everyone knows about the big one; food. However, stress, heat, cold, illness, exercise, alcohol, a break in routine, and hormones all affect the blood glucose balance.

I have participated in a structured education course in the form of DAFNE and now I want to take my diabetes education to the next level by exploring new ideas for type 1 diabetes management. I want to learn more about different ways to manage my diabetes, such as the low carbohydrate or the low glycemic index methods.

This lifestyle can result in isolation, loneliness, depression, frustration, anger, and there can be a serious lack of support because people without type 1 simply CAN'T understand.

I feel that Thrive-abetes will give me this fantastic opportunity to connect with other people with type 1 diabetes, who live just like I do. For me, it's about talking to others and learning from from them about how they "control" their diabetes because we never ever know enough, there is always something to learn.

I will hear speakers talk about their own lifestyles and how they deal with their type 1 diabetes. I will also have the opportunity to speak with companies about the latest technology in blood glucose meters.

Thrive-abetes, the conference is a first of its kind for Ireland. I would hope its success would mean it won't be the last. Yes, its ambitious but for all of the reasons I've given above, I had to throw my hand in to help in what ever way I can to bring this dream to life.

Davina"


If you would like to help make Thrive-abetes happen for people with Type 1 Diabetes, please make a €5 donation to our campaign; https://www.icrowdfund.ie/campaigns/thrive-abetes-thrive-with-type-1-diabetes-conference/

We need lots of fivers.

This week's Progress in making Thrive-abetes

This week has been a good week for making lots of progress in planning Thrive-abetes.

To date we have 5 confirmed exhibitors, half our target number of exhibitors. We will publish this list soon.

Our list of sponsors is growing. We have 5 companies who have pledged donations to make this event happen.

Delegate registration will open in June. We will have 100 places for the Parent's programme and 100 for the Adult w/T1 programme. The registration fee will be subsidised at €30 per person (this will cover your refreshments)

We will have a venue booked in the next 8 weeks all going well.

And our crowdfunding campaign is gathering interest; we have had some very significant donations from very generous people. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

I also posted on my Facebook page asking all of my friends to donate one €5 each. Its my "Friends with Fivers" initiative.

Imagine what we could do, if every person in Ireland with diabetes had 5 friends who donated €5 each. Thrive-abetes would have no funding worries and the remainder would definitely put Type 1 on the fast track to a cure.

A girl can dream; can't she?