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It’s hard to believe that we recently hosted our 10th annual ONE Conference and Retreat for Adults with Type 1 Diabetes. 10 years! But every year, we walk away saying the same thing:
“That was the best ONE yet!”
There’s something about ONE that’s difficult to describe until you experience it. (If you’ve been there, you know.) It’s part diabetes conference, part stand-up comedy show, part therapy session, part rock concert, and part weekend-long reminder that you aren’t alone in dealing with T1D. AND it’s a ONE-stop-shop to hear about the latest advances in diabetes from top endocrinologists who also live with the condition themselves.
So, in honor of our 10th anniversary, we wanted to share 10 things we love about ONE.
Feel free to add your favorites in the comments!
1. Being Surrounded By People Who Get It
By far one of the coolest parts of the diabetes conference was being around so many other type 1s who share in the struggles (and triumphs) of living with T1D. Most of us live and work in a world where we are the only person we know with type 1 diabetes, so being around hundreds of other people who “get it” felt…normal.
2. Learning Cool Stuff
We learned…a LOT. Presentations covered everything from T1D prevention to what’s on the horizon (in the next five years, we swear) for islet cell replacement therapy and other potential cures. We geeked out over new tech, heard about AI, LADA, and GLP-1s…and got empathetic and practical advice on how to deal with diabetes burnout.
3. Finding the Funny
We’re serious about diabetes education, but not about taking ourselves too seriously. So, there were lots of parody videos, sing-alongs, smack talk, fake game shows, fake news, and an occasional inappropriate comment, because if you’re going to spend your weekend at a diabetes conference, you might as well have some fun doing it.
4. Feeling the Love from Loved Ones
Friends and family (or “type 3s” as we like to say) showed up to this diabetes conference in a major way. It was amazing to see so many spouses, parents, friends, and family members taking the time to learn, connect, and support their type 1s.
5. Hearing from Speakers Who Walk the Talk
Most speakers at ONE live with type 1 diabetes themselves, so they were able to share more than medical expertise. They spoke openly and honestly about their own experiences, challenges, emotions, and lessons learned from living with T1D.
6. Connecting One-On-One with Diabetes Orgs
With more than 25 booths in our sponsor lounge, there were lots of opportunities to connect directly with the people behind the diabetes products and services we use every day. It was a chance to get answers straight from the source and learn about what might be coming next.
7. Getting Excited about Cures
Dr. Aaron Kowalski of Breakthrough T1D gave a detailed update on the progress toward preventing, preserving, and ultimately replacing the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, and it was more exciting and hopeful than most of us expected.
8. Rocking Out to the Beatles on the Bay
You can’t have a diabetes conference without a group sway-a-long to “Hey Jude”, right? Well, we can’t, and That Beatles Cover Band brought down the house after a day of diabetes downloading. By the end of the night, we were hot and sweaty…and not because of a low.
9. Meeting Friends We Didn’t Know We Needed
Some of the best moments at ONE happened between sessions. They happened over breakfast, in the sponsor lounge, walking between workshops, or striking up a conversation with a complete stranger in the buffet line and discovering you immediately have 27 things in common.
10. Remembering That We’re All in This Together
Type 1 diabetes can feel incredibly isolating, even when you’re with people who love you. But this weekend, there were 699 other people around at all times to remind you that you’re not alone. ONE creates friendships, support systems, travel buddies, group texts, and connections that last long after everyone heads home.
Seeing hundreds of people living with type 1 diabetes (and their loved ones) come together to learn, ask questions, share experiences, and support one another is why we created this event in the first place. Thank you to everyone who has attended a ONE diabetes conference…YOU are what makes us ONE!
Wanna do it again?!? ONE 2027 registration is officially open!
Come learn a few things, make some new friends, get your groove on, and spend a weekend in paradise with people who get you. Join us for the next (…and best!) ONE!
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