World Diabetes Day: Beyond insulin & carb counts; how support groups help manage Type 1 diabetes
Unlike Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
A glimpse from an event organised by Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation with UNICEF in Pune. (Express photo)
* From carb counting, daily sugar monitoring, administering insulin shot, planning meals to knowing about the latest advancements in diabetes management, Savita Chavan, parent to 15 year old Ovi, living with Type 1 diabetes, and a certified diabetes educator, says the Blue Circle Foundation’s support group has given a purpose to her isolation. “I have learned to look at it positively and now am able to voice the needs of children living with Type 1 diabetes at different social platforms,” Chavan said.
* Aastha Vakrani, 13, from Pune was six years old when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. What began as swimming therapy to help build stamina soon turned into a passion and she trains for nearly three hours daily. Recently Aastha secured first place in the 200-m breaststroke at the zonal level and qualified for the Maharashtra State Championship (U-14 girls). For Aastha and her family, the regular guidance on glucose monitoring, insulin support from Type 1 Diabetes Initiative of Hinduja Foundation has helped her manage her diabetes and chase dreams in the pool.
On the occasion of World Diabetes Day (November 14), parents like Chavan or the sports champion Aastha show that with the right guidance and care, living with Type 1 diabetes goes far beyond medical routines and is a journey of discipline, courage and community support.
Unlike Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This means individuals with Type 1 diabetes must rely on daily insulin therapy, frequent blood glucose monitoring and careful meal planning to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
“This is a life-long condition that requires constant management, awareness and resilience,” says Nupur Lalvani, Pune-based founder of Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation and who has been living with T1D since the age of eight. Lalvani said it was the country’s largest patient-led non-profit dedicated to empowering people living with all types of diabetes. “These support networks are crucial as apart from a vibrant online community, we have offline peer support groups, workshops and other initiatives that make living with diabetes a little easier every day,” Lalvani said.
Chavan couldn’t agree more and recalled how devastated she and her husband were as first-time parents when their two year old daughter Ovi was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. “Instead of support we were shamed, blamed and isolated for our child’s condition,” she recalled. While dealing with the struggle of giving daily insulin injections to ensure their baby survives, Savita’s husband met with a fatal accident. While coping with the loss, Savita also had to ensure that she kept up with the diabetes regimen for her daughter who was five years old by then. “The only good thing I felt is being around the other T1D people through the Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation support group, who could understand our challenges without judging us,” she added.
At Hinduja Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the 110-year-old Hinduja group, more than 1,000 underprivileged children across Mumbai, Pune and Chennai have been assisted through their Type 1 Diabetes Initiative. This is a model that provides medical, nutritional and emotional care to the children free of cost.
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Dr Phulrenu Chauhan, consultant endocrinologist, P D Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, said by combining advanced tools like continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps with dietary, psychological and peer support interventions they were empowering young people to lead lives with confidence.
As per a report in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice earlier this year, there are an estimated 9.5 million people living with T1D globally. In lower-income countries, prevalence cases increased by 20 per cent from 1.8 million in 2021 to 2.1 million in 2025. According to the Journal of Association of Physicians of India(2024), India ranked highest globally in the number of children living with T1D with cases rising at nearly 6.7 per cent annually.
Meanwhile, at Blue Circle Foundation, efforts have been made to collaborate with International Diabetes Federation (IDF) to build awareness and drive change in diabetes care and education at the school level. Since August 2025, Blue Circle has conducted nearly 50 urban and rural school sessions, reaching over 6,000 students and staff across multiple districts in Maharashtra, promoting understanding and inclusion for people with diabetes.
Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues .
Professional Background
Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature.
Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO.
Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives.
Awards and Recognition
Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.”
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care
"Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease.
Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose.
2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series)
Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs.
"For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune.
3. Lifestyle & Wellness News
"They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions.
At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents.
4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure
For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics.
Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far.
Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership
Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions.
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