The dawn is rising on one of the most eagerly awaited days in the calendars of many people with diabetes (PWDs) in the UK, those that have been a part of the #GBDOC community for many years now, as well as people involved with Team Blood Glucose, who are sponsoring the event.
A little bit of history (as I see it)
#GBDOC was formed on Twitter by Paul Buchanan back in August 2012 and consists of tweetchats which have happened every week since then – Wednesday nights at 9pm until 10pm. The community goes far beyond the weekly chats and there’s now hundreds of PWDs who feel connected to a support group they’ve been missing beforehand and that’s a great thing.
Paul also created Team Blood Glucose with the mission statement of TeamBG inspires people with, and those at risk of diabetes to achieve their sports and exercise goals, to educate people with diabetes of the benefits of sports and exercise and to equip them with the tools to achieve their ambitions..
So why are we excited?
For me it’s simple, I don’t get invited to any of the ‘proper’ Diabetes conferences organised by Big Pharma or the big charities, so it’s exciting to actually get to go to one.
Actually though I’m far more excited about meeting many of the people I’ve spoken with online for a couple of years, some I’ve met before once or twice, some I’ve not yet met and some I’ll no doubt not recognise whatsoever today – people only ever pick their best photos for avatars don’t they?
The list of names is endless, Paul, Midge, Kaz/Max, Phillipa, Rachel, Steve, Paul S, Alex, Bob, Adrian and on and on but there’s one person everyone wants to see today, someone who through everything she’s gone through still makes us laugh everyday, someone who knows the benefit of this community, someone who’s willing to make a very big effort to get to this conference, yep, it’s Jules. It’s fair to say the highlight for many people today will be meeting Jules.
So what’s happening today?
I can easily answer that: I don’t know, no-one knows and that’s the beauty of it.
Today we will arrive, there’ll be an opening presentation or two and then the community will decided what happens for the rest of day.
I’ll not lie, this will be either mindblowingly brilliant, or erm, not. It’s probably the first time this has been done for any subject as part of an organised conference so we’ve got no history to learn from.
I have faith that this will work, the very loose format should mean that people get to do what they want, not what is dictated to them. At risk over over using a word today I think this is exciting.
A blooming big Tweetmeet
Many of you will know that wherever I go I will try and see any of my Twitter followers who are local as I feel it’s important. Mind you, I never get invited back, hmmmm, ha ha.
So if nothing else I am looking forward to a blooming big tweetmeet.
But I know it’s going to be so much more than that.