The Power a Diabetes Conference

Last week, I had the HUGE privileged to attend an amazing conference in Orlando Florida. It came about because of a scholarship award from the Diabetes Hands Foundation, through the Diabetes Advocates program. They covered the costs of my travel, registration and lodging while at #MasterLab, which was a fantastic mini-conference before the main event, ChildrenwithDiabetes/FriendsforLife 2015 (cwdffl15)

I covered my own expenses for the Friends for Life (FFL) conference, as I was already there.

I was waiting outside the exhibit hall on the first night of the #cwdffl15 conference. As we waited in.... em, mass (there were way to many people to call it a line) for the official opening of the exhibit hall, my new friend from, MasterLab & FFL, Kim, asked me if I had ever been surrounded by this many people with diabetes?

My new friends for life, Kim and Mona.

There were 2,000 families at FFL. Most of them were standing in the foyer waiting with us. My answer was no!

While it's not possible to have those numbers at Thrive-abetes, I think that having 200 people with type 1 diabetes in one location will be impressive and so powerful.

Come join us!

Register here for Thrive-abetes.

Tickets for Thrive-abetes cost €35 each, or €60 for two tickets (this includes the administration fee from Eventbrite.ie). Lunch and refreshments will be provided to all delegates.

Sponsor Spotlight: Diabetes Ireland Supports Thrive-abetes

Diabetes Ireland have been so supportive of Thrive-abetes since day one and will be one of our exhibitors.

You may have come across their press release in some of the local newspapers (I hope).

Kieran O’Leary, CEO of  Diabetes Ireland said ‘the organisers have been working for the past 18 months to pull this excellent programme together and people with type 1 diabetes should not miss this opportunity to learn more about managing their condition’.

Since 1967, Diabetes Ireland has been the national charity dedicated to helping people with diabetes, providing support, education and motivation to everyone affected by diabetes. Diabetes Ireland also raises public awareness of diabetes and its symptoms and funds research into finding a cure for diabetes.

And a lot of people don't know this, but Diabetes Ireland, or the Irish Diabetic Association as it was known back then, was formed with the purpose to have diabetes included on the Long Term Illness scheme. Having diabetes included on this scheme meant that people with diabetes would no longer have to pay for insulin, or other diabetes medications, blood glucose meters or strips.

As we all know, they succeeded and I will be forever grateful.

Today, Diabetes Ireland offer;

• Patient support over the telephone (lo-call helpline 1850 909 909), their facebook page, website and through local support branches. 
• Support for children with diabetes and their parents through our Sweetpea Kidz Club; children and adolescent adventure activities; family weekends; and parent support groups.
• Advocacy and liaison with: clinics, services, the HSE and the Department of Health and Children.
• Anti-discrimination activity.
• Health promotion initiatives including: schools awareness, workplace awareness, early detection and prevention initiatives and diabetes screening.
• Funding Irish and international research via our subsidiary charity ‘Diabetes Ireland Research Alliance’ - www.diabetesresearch.ie

Registration here for Thrive-abetes.

Tickets for Thrive-abetes cost €35 each, or €60 for two tickets (this includes the administration fee from Eventbrite.ie). Lunch and refreshments will be provided to all delegates.

Sponsor Spotlight: Diabetes T One Support network

Diabetes T One (formerly Diabetes T1 Ireland) was set up specifically to raise awareness of Type 1 Diabetes. It is a social and support network on Facebook for people with type 1 diabetes. The also have a website to store all type 1 diabetes related information in one location.

The network is run by volunteers Davina Lyon from Co. Kildare and John O'Reilly from Co. Laois, both living with type 1 diabetes and they offer information, support and research to people living with type 1 diabetes.

As soon as Thrive-abetes was a twinkle in somebody's eye, Diabetes T One were quick to get behind it. They sponsored the first prize in our fundraiser raffle and have continued to offer assistance wherever possible.

Registration here for Thrive-abetes.

Tickets for Thrive-abetes cost €35 each, or €60 for two tickets (this includes the administration fee from Eventbrite.ie). Lunch and refreshments will be provided to all delegates.