November 2026
National Diabetes Awareness Month 2026
A Month of Mindfulness, Compassion & Community
This November, come practice with people who understand. Join us for live meditations, guest conversations, a World Diabetes Day gathering around the globe and a full-day retreat, all offered with care for the emotional side of living with Type 1 diabetes.
Supporting people living with Type 1 diabetes through mindfulness, meditation and community, so no one navigates the emotional experience of diabetes alone.The DiabetesSangha mission
November special events
Practice with us all month
Every time below is Eastern Time (ET). Online sessions all use our usual Zoom link. RSVP is only needed where you see the link. Events drop off the list once they have taken place.
Awareness Month has wrapped up. Thank you to everyone who practiced with us this November. Our weekly meditations continue all year; see the schedule below.
NDAM Kickoff & Guided Yoga Nidra
7:00 PM ET
With Bri & Peter
We open the month together with Yoga Nidra, a deeply restful guided practice done lying down. No experience needed, and newcomers are especially welcome.
NYC Marathon: Running Toward a Cure
During the race
Our community
DiabetesSangha facilitator Brooke runs the New York City Marathon. Cheer her on along the course, or send her some love online.
Spotlight: Diabetes Burnout with Dr. Bill Polonsky
7:00 PM ET
Dr. Bill Polonsky, PhD, CDCES · hosted by Heather Nielsen
What to do when you can't take it anymore. Dr. Polonsky, co-founder of the Behavioral Diabetes Institute and author of Diabetes Burnout, joins us to explore why burnout happens and how to find ease, self-compassion and resilience.
World Diabetes Day Kick-Off: Meditation & Conversation
11:00 AM ET
Led by Heather Nielsen
We open World Diabetes Day weekend together with a meditation and an easy conversation. Everyone is welcome.
World Diabetes Day Meditation, live from Sydney
7:00 PM ET · 11 AM Sat in Sydney
With Rachel Zinman
Our World Diabetes Day begins where the day dawns first. Rachel guides us from Australia.
Rise & Shine: Coffee & Mindfulness in Nashville
9:00–10:30 AM CT (10:00–11:30 AM ET)
DiabetesSangha & Risely, with Peter Friedfeld
A morning get-together at the Thompson Nashville to kick off World Diabetes Day: coffee, conversation about awareness, and a meditation that lets us settle into the day, fully present.
World Diabetes Day Global Meditation, live from Portland
12:00 PM ET
With Heather Nielsen
Our global gathering, timed so friends across the US, Europe and Israel can sit together. Wherever you are, join us.
Tara: A Star to Steer By
7:00 PM ET · 11 AM Mon in Sydney
Meditation & talk with Rachel Zinman
Yoga and meditation teacher Rachel Zinman leads a meditation and talk on Tara, a figure of compassion and guidance.
Meditation & Open House
8:00 PM ET
With Peter Friedfeld
A meditation with a little more time to talk. Curious about DiabetesSangha? New friends are warmly welcome.
Full-Day Hybrid Meditation Retreat
12:00–7:00 PM ET · 9 AM–4 PM PT
With Sam Tullman & Heather Nielsen
A full day of practice together, in person in Portland, Oregon or live on Zoom. Come for the whole day or the parts that fit your life.
Full Moon Meditation (Beaver Moon)
8:00 PM ET
With Sam Tullman
A quiet evening practice under November's full moon.
Gratitude Meditation, Thanksgiving Eve
8:00 PM ET
With Peter Friedfeld
Pause before the holiday to notice what sustains us.
Thanksgiving Golden Hour
11:00 AM ET · our only session today
With Sam & Peter
A one-hour sit to begin Thanksgiving Day with stillness.
Thanksgiving Sangha Gathering
11:00 AM ET
With Heather Nielsen
Meditation and conversation with the community over the holiday weekend.
Remote Reiki
7:00 PM ET
With Lucia Maya
Rest and receive. Lucia offers a remote Reiki session to close the month gently.
Closing Meditation & Community Gathering
8:00 PM ET
With Peter and our facilitators
We close Awareness Month together: a meditation, reflections from the month, and thanks to everyone who joined.
Saturday, November 14
World Diabetes Day, around the world
For one day, our community practices together across time zones, with a meditation live from Sydney, a morning gathering in Nashville, and a global meditation live from Portland. Choose the time that fits your day.
Live from Sydney
Rachel Zinman
Fri Nov 13 · 7:00 PM ET
Sat 11 AM in Sydney. On Zoom.
In person, Nashville
Rise & Shine with Risely
Sat Nov 14 · 9:00 AM CT
Coffee and mindfulness at the Thompson Nashville.
Global, live from Portland
Heather Nielsen
Sat Nov 14 · 12:00 PM ET
Our main global meditation, good for Europe and Israel.
Rise & Shine!Coffee & Mindfulness for World Diabetes Day
In person · Nashville · with Risely
A morning to settle into the day
DiabetesSangha and Risely invite you to start World Diabetes Day together: good coffee, good company and mindfulness meditation. We'll talk about awareness, what it means to us and how it helps us live with diabetes, then settle in together to meditate, being fully present.
- 9:00–9:30 AMOptional coffee meetup at Killebrew Coffee
- 9:30 AMGather in Lucille A (2nd floor)
- 10:00 AMMeditation together
Thompson Nashville, 401 11th Avenue South, Nashville, TN · All times Central
| Session | Pacific | Central | Eastern | London & Edinburgh | Amsterdam, Germany, Norway | Israel | Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney, Rachel | 4 PM Fri | 6 PM Fri | 7 PM Fri | 12 AM Sat | 1 AM Sat | 2 AM Sat | 11 AM Sat |
| Portland, Heather | 9 AM | 11 AM | 12 PM | 5 PM | 6 PM | 7 PM | 4 AM Sun |
All year long
Our regular meditation community
Awareness Month is a good time to start, and you can stay with us after it ends. We meet live on Zoom every weekday, and it's always free.
Mon & Wed
8:00 PM ET
Evening meditation
Tue & Thu mornings
7:00 or 11:00 AM ET
Silent Morning Practice, 30 minutes: 7 AM with Peter or 11 AM with Sam
Friday
11:00 AM ET
Friday Friendlies with Heather
Daily meditations this November
All times ET, on our usual Zoom link. On days with a special event, that event takes the place of the regular session.
- Mon Nov 28:00 PM Meditation · Sarah
- Tue Nov 37:00 AM Silent sit · Peter11:00 AM Silent sit · Sam
- Wed Nov 48:00 PM Meditation · Brooke
- Thu Nov 57:00 AM Silent sit · Peter11:00 AM Silent sit · Sam
- Fri Nov 611:00 AM Friday Friendlies · Heather
- Mon Nov 98:00 PM Meditation · Peter
- Tue Nov 107:00 AM Silent sit · Peter11:00 AM Silent sit · Sam
- Wed Nov 118:00 PM Meditation · Brooke
- Thu Nov 127:00 AM Silent sit · Peter11:00 AM Silent sit · Sam
- Fri Nov 1311:00 AM Friday Friendlies, World Diabetes Day kickoff · Heather
- Tue Nov 177:00 AM Silent sit · Peter11:00 AM Silent sit · Sam
- Wed Nov 188:00 PM Meditation · Brooke
- Thu Nov 197:00 AM Silent sit · Peter11:00 AM Silent sit · Sam
- Fri Nov 2011:00 AM Friday Friendlies · Heather
- Tue Nov 247:00 AM Silent sit · Peter11:00 AM Silent sit · Sam
That's all of November's regular sessions. Our weekly meditations continue in December.
Free resources
Practice anytime
Our meditation e-book
A free guide to mindfulness practices for living with diabetes. Sign up for the newsletter and we'll let you know when it's ready.
Get notified →Guided meditations on YouTube
Recorded talks and guided practices from our facilitators, ready whenever you need a pause.
Watch on YouTube →The Weekly Dose
A short practice from one of our facilitators, in every Monday newsletter.
Subscribe →Stay connected
You don't have to do this alone
Join the newsletter for the week's sessions and the Weekly Dose, follow along on Instagram, or simply come to a meditation. On Giving Tuesday, December 1, you can also help keep our programs free for everyone.