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Celebrate World Diabetes Day with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is Type 1 Talk-a event that will connect the diabetes community from all over the country to talk about important type 1 diabetes issues and provide diabetes support. Here’s a look at the event.
About the Event
Taking place virtually on November 14th at 3pm (EDT), which is World Diabetes Day, the Type 1 Talk is actually a USTREAM broadcast put on by JDRF. “The topics were submitted and voted on by Type 1 Talk participants using Google Moderator. We based our agenda topics around the questions that received the most votes from those participants,” says Melissa Smicker, Manager of Grassroots Outreach for JDRF.
Topics will include:
- Artificial pancreas and the FDA approval process.
- Lessening and preventing autoimmunity attack of beta cells.
- Increasing public awareness and improving education about type 1 diabetes.
- Existing treatments and those “in the works”.
- Health Care Coverage for adults with type 1 diabetes.
During the broadcast, listeners can ask questions and join in the discussion. Participants are also encouraged to use a Facebook application to develop their own local events around the broadcast in an effort to bring the diabetes community together.
“As of today, we have 60 events posted on the Facebook application and I know that a few are happening outside of Facebook as well,” says Smicker. “We had over 1,500 people log on to watch our first ever USTREAM broadcast led by Dr. Aaron Kowalski and that was only covering one topic. I hope that by addressing a variety of topics this time, we’ll have even more people logging on to listen and submit their questions.”
How to Get Involved
It’s easy to get involved in this event visit http://www.ustream.tv/channel/jdrf-advocacy to take part in the broadcast or there will be an 800 number shared at a later date for those who do not have internet access. More fun than watching it by yourself, you can plan an event and watch it with others in your community. “Events can vary for each host! Some hosts are organizing a small broadcast viewing party in their home. Others have found larger spaces at restaurants, in churches, at JDRF chapter offices, and universities. A potential host needs to decide what type of event they’d like to coordinate and then work on finding an appropriate space to accommodate their attendees,” says Smicker. Planning an event for this talk doesn’t have to be hard. Go to the designated Facebook application (http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=115535078476656) where you can get information about the program. To actually access the application, just click on the blue “Go To Application” button. Once your event is posted on the application you will have access to a resources page which will give you best practices, sample materials and more to help you with your event.
For more information on the event visit the JDRF Advocacy Blog.
By Raechel Conover
