“Thriveabetes” Type 1 Diabetes Conference: "Connect, Learn, and Thrive at the Thriveabetes Conference in Portlaoise"

A conference for people with Type 1 Diabetes is taking place on Saturday, 5th October, in The Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. The conference will include many speakers living with type 1 diabetes, opportunities to meet others with diabetes, and to find out about the latest technology in diabetes treatments. 

This event is organised by Thriveabetes, an organisation run by people living with type 1 diabetes. Advanced registration is required to attend. For more information, visit the website Thriveabetes. ie.

Thriveabetes aims to bring people with diabetes together to share experiences living with this lifelong chronic condition so that no person with diabetes feels alone! This is the seventh conference since its creation in 2015. The conference is open to adults and young adults living with Type 1 Diabetes, as well as parents of children with Type 1 Diabetes. The event also includes an exhibition with many of the companies that provide diabetes devices to the community, as well as some small diabetes businesses. 

This year’s conference will feature a diverse lineup of speakers living with Type 1 Diabetes, offering personal insights and strategies for managing diabetes, including keynote speakers Chris Bright and Dr Rose Stewart. 

• Chris is the founder of the Diabetes Football Community and JDRF UK Community Partnerships Events Lead, who has lived with diabetes for almost 25 years. 
• Dr Rose Stewart is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Diabetes Psychology Lead for Wales, Chair of the UK Diabetes Psychology Network and Author of the TalkingType1 book series: “Diabetes Burnout”, “Diabetes Distress and Burnout for Parents and Carers” and “How to Manage a Mammoth: A book for children and families living with Type 1 diabetes”.  Some people may have seen her book read on BBC’s Cbeebies Bedtime Stories in June. 

Additional speakers include: 

• Ken Barclay, from the Dublin Adults with Type 1 Support group, Dublin,
• Former World Championship Kickboxer from Louth, Catherine Brady,
• Dr Cathy Breen, Registered Dietitian, DAFNE educator and Interim Dietetic Lead on the National Clinical Programme for Diabetes,
• Weronica Burkot, Polish Artist living in Belgium, Illustrator, and Content Creator who has been living with type 1 diabetes since 1995,
• Aisling O'Rourke, from Offaly, Communications & Media Coach, Broadcaster, living with Type 1 diabetes since 1989, 
• Paula Short, from Galway, Psychotherapist, group facilitator and parent of a young adult with type 1 diabetes

Thriveabetes takes place on Saturday, 5th October, in The Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, Co. Laois and includes an exhibition with many companies who provide diabetes devices to the community. Advanced registration is required to attend. For more information, contact info@Thriveabetes.ie or go to the Thriveabetes webpage: www.Thriveabetes.ie.