“Thrive-abetes” is a one day conference for adults living with type 1 diabetes and parents of children with type 1 diabetes, taking place on Saturday, October 3rd 2015 in The Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.

This Type 1 Diabetes conference will focus on the psychological impact of living with a chronic, lifelong condition. It will aim to provide “Inspiration, Motivation and Information” to people living with type 1 diabetes, both parents of children with diabetes and adults.

The conference is being organised by Diabetes Ireland volunteers; Gráinne Flynn, Rebecca Flanagan and Christine Meehan from Co. Clare, along with a team from the diabetes online community and with support from Diabetes Ireland.

Organiser, Gráinne Flynn said “we have developed specific programmes for both groups (Adults with type 1 and parents of children with type 1) based on patient research that we did in 2014. Since we started planning this event, we have been overwhelmed with the amount of support we have received from the online diabetes community, from healthcare professionals and from the diabetes industry.”

The speakers will include people who are internationally renowned in the diabetes community, including Joe Solowiejczyk who is a certified Diabetes Nurse, a Clinical Social Worker, a Family Therapist, a Motivational Speaker, and author of the Type 1 Diabetes Guide to the Universe ebook for families with Type 1 Diabetes. Joe has lived with Type 1 diabetes for over 50 years and will be presenting several topics at Thrive-abetes, including how to stay motivated to take care of your diabetes every day and a how not to pull your hair out as a parent of a child with type 1 diabetes.

The speakers will include people who are both internationally and nationally renowned in the diabetes community, including:

– Joe Solowiejczyk who is a certified Diabetes Nurse, a Family Therapist, and has lived with Type 1 diabetes for over 50 years. Joe will present several topics at Thrive-abetes, including staying motivated to take care of your diabetes every day and you can manage your child’s diabetes without pulling your hair out.

– Kate & Isobel Fazakerley. Kate is Chair of the Families with Diabetes National Network UK, a network of all regional parents in England who represent the views of families with type 1 diabetes. She is also Mum to Isobel, who was diagnosed when she was two years old. Isobel is now 18.

– Kevin McMahon is the co-author of “Sugar Surfing; How to manage type 1 diabetes in a modern world” with his long time friend Stephen W. Ponder, MD CDE, which was published in May of this year.

– Helena Farrell, is founder of Diabetes Insight, and specialises in diabetes education, support and nutrition. Helena will give delegates some pointers on how to avoid diabetes burnout; a state of disillusionment and depression, in which all of the effort required of people with diabetes can sometimes lead to.

– Dr. Kevin Moore, consultant endocrinologist in Tallaght Hospital and Naas General Hospital. In 2011, he became chairman of the Diabetes section of the Irish Endocrine Society, having been secretary of the same committee since 2008. Dr. Moore has worked tirelessly throughout his career to improve the lives of patients with diabetes.

– And, Dr. Clare McVicker, head of advocacy at JDRF UK will update all of the delegates on the clinical trials of the closed loop artificial pancreas, beta cell encapsulation and other new developments in the treatment of type 1 diabetes.

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’.

The conference will cost €35 per person, or €60 for two tickets, to register which is being subsidised by revenue from the adjacent exhibition and from sponsorship donations. Lunch and refreshments will be provided to all delegates.

Registration is open through this link www.thrive-abetes.eventbrite.ie. More details about the Thrive-abetes schedule is available from www.thrive-abetes.blogspot.ie or by sending an email to [email protected]