On Saturday, March 4, 2017, ten women from DiabetesSisters of Denver attended the Empowering Patients for Individualized Care (EPIC) conference in Denver and held a PODS (Part of DiabetesSisters) Meetup after the conference. The day's focus included enhancing their current diabetes education and learning ways to apply it to themselves as well as other PODS members.
The EPIC conference was open to adults and children with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, as well as caregivers. Sessions included: Newer Medications for Diabetes, Autoimmune Diseases Associated with T1D, Future of Diabetes Technologies, Hypoglycemia and Glucose Control, Healthy Living with Diabetes, Diabetes and Emotional Health, and Diabetes a nuestra cultura y el lenguaje.
Slides from the sessions are available on the conference website.
Erika Armani and Theresa Hastings, co-leaders of the Denver Metro PODS Meetup, brought members together for the day’s events. Erika founded the Meetup in 2013, and Theresa came on as a co-leader in 2014. The group meets monthly at a variety of locations in the Denver area and members have done everything from going on hikes together to riding in the ADA Tour de Cure (go Red Riders!), to trying out different restaurants and locations like the Denver Aquarium to meet. The constant theme, no matter where they are or what they’re trying, is education, support and encouragement for each other as women with diabetes.
The EPIC day concluded with a PODS Meetup, which included energetic discussions on the conference session topics, local healthcare professional, new and current diabetes technology, diabetes in the workplace, carbohydrate counting, the upcoming DiabetesSisters Weekend for Women Conference, and the importance of peer support for women living with diabetes.
As Erika said, “Through our community of women in the PODS Meetup, I’ve learned about different treatment options and gained courage to try new things. My overall health has improved with the information and support I've received from my dSisters.” Theresa added that before finding DiabetesSisters, she was the only person with diabetes that she knew. Finding PODS changed her perspective from feeling alone to knowing there are many women like her and they can all lift each other with support and encouragement.
Since 2010, the PODS (Part Of DiabetesSisters) Meetup Program has offered monthly support to women living with any type of diabetes or prediabetes, providing a safe and non-judgmental place to discuss the successes and challenges of living with diabetes. Led by women living with diabetes, the groups offer true peer support focused on women and diabetes. The PODS Meetup Program reaches more than 1,300 women annually in-person (in 18 different states) and online (members meet via computer cameras from the comfort of their own home). Women living with all types of diabetes are invited to attend PODS Meetups. If you would like more information on meetings in your area, or starting your own Meetup group, please complete the PODS Meetup inquiry form –we look forward to hearing from you!
DiabetesSisters would like to express appreciation to the Dexcom One Step Ahead Foundation as the 2017 sponsor of our signature PODS Meetup program and the registration fees for PODS members to attend the EPIC conference.