Community and Conferences
Children with Diabetes started back in 1995, after the diagnosis of Jeff and Brenda Hitchcock's 24 month old daughter, Marissa. That diagnosis brought an immediate need for information, education, and community ... and brought about the creation of one of the most trusted and robust global diabetes communities. The CWD team has spent the last 25 years bringing together families affected by diabetes, both online and offline, to create space for people to thrive after a diabetes diagnosis. Our Friends for Life conferences have been taking place since 2001, and continue on in 2020 and beyond. Our newer CWD programs and events, like our Screenside Chat series, MoFFL and Moms with T1D meetups, and our upcoming FFL Minis (more on that soon!) provide ways for our community to continue to digitally connect, even during a pandemic.
No matter what, CWD is here for the ever-changing and evolving diabetes community. We've grown together, from the moments when our children were diagnosed to the moments where our children had children of their own. And we will continue to be here for one another, through it all.
For the latest on our upcoming digital events, in-person conferences, and everything in-between, check back often on this page. We'll be updating this content regularly to reflect what's new.
Friends for Life Conferences
"One of the most magical times for people with diabetes happens every year in July, with the annual Friends For Life® Conference hosted at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida."




Does your diabetes need a boost? A little revitalization? Come join the CWD team for our Friends for Life: Spring Refuel 2021, where the focus is refueling our diabetes plan. Our team will bring families like yours the science-based information you need from the world-renowned speakers in the diabetes community, to help you thrive with diabetes.
Planning for Friends for Life® Orlando is already underway, and our team is hard at work planning for an in-person conference while working in a virtual component so that our community is supported and connected ... no matter how we reach one another. Registration for Friends for Life Orlando 2021 will be opening in Spring 2021.
Projects + Programs
During these times when COVID-19 is limiting the ways we're able to connect with one another, our CWD family will stay united through fireside chat-style webinars.
January 3: Diabetes & Mental Wellness with Dr. Jessie Wong
January 17: Updates on TrialNet, with Dr. Carla Greenbaum
January 31: Diabetes and SARS-COV2: An Update, with Dr. Rayhan Lal
February 14: An Update from T1D Exchange, with CEO Dave Walton
February 28: Being the Significant Other
March 14: Eye Health and PWD, with Ben Szirth, PhD
CWD's Masterpiece Product Theater is a way for the diabetes industry and entrepreneurial community to connect with the CWD family through dedicated webinar meetings hosted by the CWD team, featuring industry partners. Held on Tuesday evenings from 7 - 8 pm ET, these discussions are an opportunity for companies and partners to hold a focus group, introduce a new product, feature a speaker from their roster, or hold a roundtable discussion on a topic of their choice.


Feb 1 Feb 15
March 1 March 15 March 29
April 12 April 26
May 10 May 24
June 7 June 21



