BOSTON and NEW YORK, October 22, 2025 – Blue Circle Health, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), is expanding its free, virtual program that provides clinical care, education, and support to adults with T1D to five more states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky. With this expansion, the organization is now operating in 16 states. Critically, Blue Circle Health services are provided at no cost to people with T1D, coordinating with their existing care providers and connecting them to new providers and services as needed.
“Blue Circle Health was founded to bridge the gap between the care people with type 1 diabetes need and what is available through the traditional health system,” said Leonard D’Avolio, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Circle Health. “As a program, Blue Circle Health can improve the health of many and serve as proof that better outcomes at lower cost is possible.”
Blue Circle Health creates a personalized care plan for each participant, tailored to their unique needs, and provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary support over a six-month period. This approach allows enough time to address acute challenges while building the skills, confidence, and connections needed for long-term success.
“Helmsley is an early believer in Blue Circle because managing T1D is hard and our current healthcare system makes it even more difficult.” said David Panzirer, Trustee at The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. “We want a better future.”
“At its foundation, the program is rooted in diabetes self-management education and support. We’ve added a number of additional services based on patient needs such as insurance navigation, diabetes supportive counseling, peer support, community resource navigation, and financial assistance for T1D medications and supplies,” D’Avolio shared.
Dr. Monica Gomberg, Endocrinologist and Vice President of Clinical Care, explained, “At Blue Circle Health, whole-person care reflects our belief that true well-being for people living with T1D extends far beyond what a single physician can provide in a traditional office visit.” Blue Circle works alongside patients’ current providers as a complement to existing care. Because it is free from the constraints of fee-for-service models and economic incentives, the organization is able to focus entirely on improving health outcomes and quality of life for adults living with T1D.
Preliminary outcomes from Blue Circle Health show statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in diabetes distress after just six months in the program.5 Participants’ experiences mirror these results. “I don’t know where I would be right now if I didn’t find Blue Circle Health. They picked me up when I was at one of my lowest points,” said Michele, who has lived with T1D for 40 years. “If Blue Circle Health can get out there and show people that this is the right way—providing what we need—it’s the right thing to do. It has to be this way.”
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the body cannot produce insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels. Each year, approximately 64,000 people in the U.S. are newly diagnosed with T1D, more than half of them adults.1 Yet access to care remains a nationwide challenge: 70% of U.S. counties have no practicing endocrinologist,2 out-of-pocket costs for medication and supplies remain high,3 and restrictive insurance policies limit coverage for essential services like diabetes education and support services.4 These barriers leave many people with T1D struggling to find timely, specialized care — underscoring the urgent need for scalable, virtual solutions.
In addition to expanding its program, Blue Circle Health is launching a new podcast, “Around the Circle: Living Well with T1D,” hosted by Scott Johnson. Each episode will feature expert guests and community voices on topics ranging from navigating insurance to managing the holidays with T1D. Designed to empower and inform, the podcast will share practical tips and real-life strategies for living well with this complex condition. The podcast is now available on all major streaming platforms.
People with T1D 18 years of age or older who speak English or Spanish are eligible to enroll in Blue Circle Health’s program, with free community online resources available to anyone impacted by the disease. To sign up or refer a person living with T1D to the program if you are a provider, visit www.bluecirclehealth.org.
About Blue Circle Health
Blue Circle Health is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free virtual clinical care, education, and support for adults with type 1 diabetes. The 6-month individualized program can include endocrinology care, diabetes education, peer support, diabetes supportive counseling, insurance navigation, assistance paying for T1D medications and supplies, and referrals to community resources that can help with access to housing, employment and food. Blue Circle Health is currently available in 16 states—and will continue to expand in the coming months—to adults 18+ who speak English or Spanish. Providers can refer patients, and eligible adults (18+) can sign up today at bluecirclehealth.org or by calling 888-404-4813.
About the Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has granted more than $4.6 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. The Helmsley Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Program is the largest private foundation funder in the world with a focus on T1D, with more than $1 billion to date granted to transform the trajectory of the disease and to accelerate access to 21st century care, everywhere. For more information on Helmsley and its programs, visit helmsleytrust.org.
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For further information, please contact:
Sara Lerner, Director of Community Engagement, connect@bluecirclehealth.org
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