DiabetesSisters

What DiabetesSisters does

DiabetesSisters is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit patient advocacy organization founded in 2008 and based in Bolingbrook, Illinois. It is the only US organization focused exclusively on providing gender-specific diabetes education and peer support for women living with Type 1, Type 2, gestational, LADA/Type 1.5 diabetes, and women with prediabetes or at elevated risk for Type 2. Its service portfolio is centered on three core program types — virtual peer-led meetups, expert-led webinars, and peer/expert workshops — augmented by a digital Resources Library and a growing set of condition- and population-specific content hubs covering gestational diabetes, Type 1 diabetes screening, inhaled insulin, motherhood, lifestyle and prevention, and Hispanic women's resources in Spanish.

The organization does not develop proprietary technology; its platform consists of a website (diabetessisters.org), a virtual event delivery system, video content hosted via Wistia, email communications, and an active Facebook community. It serves approximately 9,500 registered members within a 37,000+ total audience reach and delivers 275+ programs annually. Outcomes reported from 2024 program data include 90% of participants feeling convinced to make behavioral changes and 88% feeling confident in their ability to do so.

DiabetesSisters operates on a freemium model in which membership and all core resources are free to access. Revenue is generated through pharmaceutical company sponsorships structured in tiered levels (Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze), with Platinum sponsors comprising Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Regeneron, supplemented by individual donations offered as monthly recurring gifts ($10-$200) and one-time gifts ($120-$2,400), each tier mapped to specific programmatic outputs. Distribution is entirely digital and direct-to-consumer across the United States, with research and clinical collaborations extending reach into academic and policy channels (PCORI, CDC DSMES Toolkit working group, AACE, GWU DECIDE, GoodMoms).

Name

DiabetesSisters

Legal name

DiabetesSisters

Website

https://diabetessisters.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DiabetesSisters is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 that delivers gender-specific peer support, education, and advocacy programs — including virtual meetups, webinars, workshops, and condition-specific content hubs — to women living with or at risk of diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, gestational, LADA, prediabetes).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diabetes Patient Advocacy Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Diabetes (General) (HLAKADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Type 1 Diabetes Care (HLAKADAB)

Keywords

• Diabetes patient advocacy
• Peer support groups
• Women's health education
• Diabetes self-management
• Virtual health community

Headquarters

HQ city

Bolingbrook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Sponsorships: Pharmaceutical company sponsorships (Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze tiers) provide funding for community programs and educational initiatives. Sponsors include major diabetes companies such as Lilly, Sanofi, Regeneron, Boehringer Ingelheim, and others who support specific programs and content.
2. Donations: Individual donations at various tiers ($10-$200 monthly or one-time gifts) support organizational mission. Donation tiers fund specific activities: educational materials, support group organization, online resources, workshop development, leadership training, and outreach programs. Donors receive e-cookbook with $25+ donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DiabetesSisters provides free, virtual, peer-led support groups (meetups), expert-led webinars, and peer-and-expert workshops tailored to women living with all types of diabetes and those at risk. The core offering is supplemented by an online Resources Library of articles, blogs, tip sheets, guides, and videos, plus specialized content hubs covering gestational diabetes, Type 1 diabetes screening, inhaled insulin, motherhood, lifestyle prevention, and Spanish-language Hispanic resources. All programs are delivered at no cost to individual women and funded through pharmaceutical sponsorships and individual donations.

Product overview

DiabetesSisters is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit patient advocacy organization offering a comprehensive platform of peer support and education programs specifically designed for women with diabetes and those at risk. The core offerings include virtual peer-led support groups/meetups, expert-led webinars, and workshops that form the foundation of their community support system. The organization also operates specialized content hubs including an Inhaled Insulin Hub, Type 1 Diabetes Screening Program, Gestational Diabetes Support, Lifestyle & Prevention Support, and Motherhood Support Program. All programs are complemented by an extensive Resources Library featuring articles, videos, guides, and tip sheets. The portfolio serves over 9,500 members through more than 275 programs annually, with bilingual support available through dedicated Hispanic resources in Spanish.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Virtual Support Groups & Meetups Free peer-led virtual conversations that provide support, share knowledge, and foster connections to empower women's diabetes management journey; open to women with all types of diabetes and those at risk.
• Webinars Expert-led online sessions offering insights and practical advice from diabetes care and lifestyle coaching experts, designed for people with diabetes, healthcare providers, caregivers, and those interested in diabetes education.
• Workshops Peer-led and expert workshops offering tips and strategies on topics specific to women's health, designed for women with diabetes and those at risk.
• Resources Library Comprehensive collection of educational resources including articles, blogs, videos, guides, and downloadable tip sheets designed to support diabetes management and wellness journey for women.
• Hispanic Resources (Recursos para Mujeres Hispanas) Spanish-language resources including guides, articles, and tools designed to support the Hispanic community with culturally relevant diabetes education and support, featuring the 'Mujeres Siendo Reales' video series.
• Inhaled Insulin Hub Educational content hub covering inhaled insulin options, featuring expert articles, videos, downloadable tip sheets, and real stories from women about managing diabetes with inhaled insulin (FDA-approved Afrezza by MannKind).
• Gestational Diabetes Support Resources and support for women with gestational diabetes, covering diagnosis, meal planning, blood glucose monitoring, postpartum recovery, and long-term health, with connections to DECIDE and GoodMoms research studies.
• Type 1 Diabetes Screening Program Educational program focused on early detection of Type 1 Diabetes to prevent DKA, featuring video series, expert articles, and guides on screening processes, test kits (ASK Program, TrialNet, Enable Biosciences), and teplizumab treatment options.
• Lifestyle & Prevention Support Prevention-focused program helping women with prediabetes or at-risk women lower diabetes risk through education, peer support, downloadable tools, and virtual events covering nutrition, movement, stress, and sleep.
• Motherhood Support Program Support group and resources for mothers with diabetes, addressing pregnancy preparation, breastfeeding, infant care, and balancing diabetes management with caregiving responsibilities, hosted by Lindsay Cohen and CJ Walker.
• Online Member Community Free membership platform connecting over 9,500 members with access to events, resources, peer support, and educational content tailored for women living with or at risk of diabetes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of 2024 program participants felt convinced to make behavioral changes
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered platinum, minor and bronze.

• Lilly (Eli Lilly and Company)platinumGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor supporting DiabetesSisters educational programs and resources. Lilly's sponsorship helps fund community education and outreach initiatives targeting women with diabetes and those at risk.
• SanofiplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor, notably supporting Type 1 Diabetes Screening initiatives and related educational programs. Sanofi-sponsored research demonstrated 90% participant behavioral change effectiveness.
• RegeneronplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor supporting DiabetesSisters mission and programs for women with diabetes education and community support.
• Astellas PharmaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports specific educational content on menopause and Type 2 diabetes as shown in resource sponsorship credits.
• Boehringer IngelheimminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvisory Council member providing strategic guidance to DiabetesSisters programs and initiatives.
• Lexicon PharmaceuticalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvisory Council member contributing to strategic direction of DiabetesSisters initiatives.
• MannKind CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of inhaled insulin educational content and resources on DiabetesSisters platform.
• MerckbronzeGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor supporting DiabetesSisters educational initiatives and community programs.
• AACE (American Association of Clinical Endocrinology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry collaborator contributing to diabetes technology patient education resources and professional guidelines alignment.
• CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSMES Toolkit partner working group member representing voice of people living with diabetes in national diabetes education initiatives.
• PCORI (Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator supporting patient-centered diabetes research and outcomes evaluation.
• GWU DECIDE StudyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with George Washington University for gestational diabetes research and treatment support programs.
• GoodMoms StudyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration supporting postpartum diabetes risk reduction research for women who had gestational diabetes.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Diabetes Association: The American Diabetes Association is the largest general diabetes nonprofit in the US, providing education, advocacy, and research funding across all diabetes types and populations. It overlaps with DiabetesSisters in patient education, professional resources (Standards of Care), and national sponsorships, but lacks the women-only, peer-led community focus.
• Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF): Breakthrough T1D is the largest US nonprofit focused on Type 1 diabetes research and advocacy, with overlapping T1D screening and education programs. While broader in scope (research funding, all ages, all genders), it competes for the same corporate sponsor wallets and member attention, particularly in the T1D screening space where DiabetesSisters runs a parallel program.

Others

• Defeat Diabetes Foundation: Defeat Diabetes Foundation runs awareness, screening, and education programs targeting at-risk populations. It is thematically adjacent but smaller and less program-intensive than DiabetesSisters, making it more of an ecosystem participant than a direct competitor.
• CDC Division of Diabetes Translation: The CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation funds the National Diabetes Prevention Program and DSMES Toolkits in which DiabetesSisters participates as a working-group member. It is an enabler/funding partner rather than a competitor, providing institutional scale that complements DiabetesSisters' community reach.

Emerging players

• College Diabetes Network: College Diabetes Network provides peer support and resources for young adults with T1D through campus chapters, sharing a peer-led community model with DiabetesSisters. It targets a narrower age cohort and could serve as a pipeline into DiabetesSisters' adult programming.
• Children with Diabetes: Children with Diabetes operates conferences, online communities, and parent resources for families affected by Type 1 diabetes, with a strong pharma sponsor base. It complements DiabetesSisters on T1D family-facing content (e.g., mothers of children with T1D) and overlaps at conferences like Friends for Life.
• diaTribe Foundation: diaTribe Foundation produces patient-facing diabetes content, runs behavior-change programs, and convenes clinicians. It overlaps with DiabetesSisters in evidence-based education and online community programming, though it serves a broader audience and is more focused on media/journalism than support groups.
• Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD): TCOYD runs diabetes education conferences, webinars, and healthcare-provider programs focused on patient empowerment and behavior change. Its event-driven education model and corporate sponsor base directly parallel DiabetesSisters' webinar and workshop programming.

Direct peers

• Beyond Type 1: Beyond Type 1 is a diabetes nonprofit that runs digital programming, peer communities, and education programs across diabetes types, sharing a digital-first, community-led GTM model. Like DiabetesSisters, it depends on pharma sponsorship and donor revenue, and competes for similar audience mindshare among women living with diabetes.

Regional players

• Diabetes UK: Diabetes UK is the largest UK diabetes charity, providing education, peer support, and advocacy services across all diabetes types. It mirrors DiabetesSisters' model of community-led education and support, but its UK scope means it doesn't directly compete for US sponsorship dollars.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/diabetessisters
• Xx.com/diabetessisters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DiabetesSisters