Kay Mober’s journey with diabetes started more than 43 years ago, when she was diagnosed with type 1. Her journey with DiabetesSisters began in 2015 when she started attending a Part of DiabetesSisters (PODS) Meetup in Albany, NY. She enjoyed the meetings each month and how supportive everyone was.
When Kay moved to Chesapeake, VA a year or so later, she really missed the peer support and friendships from the Albany group. After looking for a diabetes support group in the Chesapeake/Norfolk area and not finding one, she decided to start a new PODS Meetup and co-lead it with her sister, Sally Ellefson, who lives witht type 2 diabetes.
The Chesapeake PODS Meetup holds its monthly meetings at a conference room at a local wellness center, part of a regional medical center. Usually about 5 or 6 women attend. The group has covered topics including: heathy eating (presented by a local registered dietician); the whole foods diet (presented by another guest speaker); heart health; info about local diabetes and related resources; and strategies for keeping track of blood glucose readings and sharing them with one’s doctor in order to make changes to treatment plans and strive for goal HbA1c results. In December, the group meets at a restaurant for a more social meeting and celebration.
Kay and Sally always leave plenty of time for questions and discussion, and for attendees to share their recent experiences of living with diabetes. The members enjoy being able to share with other women who are living with diabetes and other similar chronic conditions, and can help give insights into their struggles and successes.
As Kay says: “I like to provide help to others with diabetes. DiabetesSisters and being a PODS Leader keeps me motivated to stay abreast of research about diabetes, trends in treatment, and so on. That helps me, at the same time as I can help others.”
Since 2010 the Part Of DiabetesSisters (PODS) Meetup program has offered monthly support to women living with any type of diabetes or prediabetes, and provided a nonjudgmental place to discuss the successes and challenges of living with diabetes. Led by women lwho live 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 22 states) and online (members meet via computer cameras from the comfort of their own home). Women age 18 and up, living with any type of diabetes or prediabetes, are invited to attend PODS Meetups. If you would like more information on local PODS Meetups near you, or starting a group in your community, please complete the PODS Meetup inquiry form –we look forward to hearing from you!