Fall is arriving in all its usual glorious colors—pumpkin orange, apple red, forest green, and…blue?

That’s right. Thanks to National Diabetes Awareness Month, blue is the color to flaunt this November, and looking Forward—JDRF’s theme for the month—is what fuels our vision and mission to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications, for those living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and those who love them. It’s a reminder of what and who we are fighting for, and that together, we move #ForwardAs1.

This year, the T1D community will have ample opportunity to showcase its team spirit. November is truly a month of wonders—World Diabetes Day falls on November 14, the anniversary of insulin discoverer Frederick Banting’s birth. But even before that, on November 1, JDRF will be celebrating T1Day.

Inaugurated by JDRF on November 1, 2011 (11-1-11), T1Day is an occasion to use our collective voice to reach as many people around the world as we can, to raise awareness about T1D, and celebrate the lives of those who live with T1D and those who love them.

What can you do to paint your own town blue? We have a few ideas.

• Generate awareness of T1D during all of your online events and gatherings via our Zoom and Microsoft Teams backgrounds [zip file].
• Write to your local government officials to ask them to officially proclaim World Diabetes Day.
• Wear your favorite blue outfit to school or work.  Expand your options with some new NDAM items:
  • A 2023 JDRF Forward for type 1 diabetes t-shirt. $1 from every t-shirt purchase benefits JDRF research.
  • Exclusively for National Diabetes Awareness Month, JDRF has partnered with Little Words Project on a custom “Forward4T1D” bracelet. For every bracelet purchased, Little Words Project will donate 25% to JDRF. Bracelets available for purchase starting Nov. 1.

JDRF’s chapters and international affiliates are making their own exciting plans for National Diabetes Awareness Month, and they can help you put your own creative ideas to work too, so be sure to check in with your local JDRF team for more information. Together, we can shout our way to cures for this disease!

For the inside scoop on events through the month of November, visit our National Diabetes Awareness Month page.