Moms' Night Out Cleveland Conference Report
Our second event of 2025!
We head to the suburbs of Cleveland for a very chilly Moms’ Night Out!
The entire event took place at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Cleveland Beachwood Friday February 21-22. This is the closest we’d held two MNO events, with Atlanta just two weeks before! Loads of fun to meet dozens of fabulous women for connection, education, and a lot of laughs.
The event began with a bubbly welcome toast as we opened our vendor fair, where attendees got up close with the latest in diabetes technology. Beta Bionics, Medtronic, Tandem, and Omnipod and the new “twiist” showcased their cutting-edge pump systems, while Sanofi helped educate on screening for type 1 diabetes, and Gvoke provided insights into emergency glucagon use. Dexcom was there to educate and answer questions as well.
We were thrilled to have Camp Ho Mita Koda at our vendor fair. Founded in 1929, they are the first and oldest operating summer camp in the world for kids with T1D!
The “check-ins” have become one of our most requested features at MNO! Attendees signed up in advance for quick, 15-minute one-on-one sessions with diabetes educators Dana Roseman, CDCES of Integrated Diabetes Services and Julia Blanchette, PhD, RN, BC-ADM, CDCES, ensuring they left with fresh insights and tailored advice.
Cocktails and crafts is always a blast – we made some friendship bracelets enjoyed drinks and mocktails.
For our Friday speaker, we had the amazing Rob Howe from Diabetics Doing Things. Running from a late flight, Rob talked about the unpredictability of T1D but also about how it hasn’t stopped him from fulfilling his dreams. Rob is a Medtronic Ambassador – big thanks to MedT for sending him to Cleveland!
After the panels, we had our raffles for Kendra Scott jewelry, a VIVI Cap cooling device, and Stacey’s books and called it a night. As usual, most of the moms extended the evening socializing and having fun in the hotel bar!
Saturday morning began with coffee, of course! Stacey and another mom, Katrina, helmed a panel about independence and about emergency low blood glucose treatment. Sponsored by Gvoke, they covered real-life strategies for handling lows with confidence.
Next up was our Ask Me Anything panel featuring Natalie Bellini, DNP, FNP-BC, CDCES and Julia Blanchette, PhD, RN, CDCES. No topic was off-limits—independence, fears, sports, alcohol—you name it, we tackled it! The raw honesty and shared experiences made this one of the most powerful sessions of the weekend.
But wait.. there’s more! Our second T.E.A. Party (Thoughts, Emotions, Actions)! Attendees donned fascinator-style hats, nibbled on tea sandwiches, and dove into a reflective exercise led by Slade and Stacey. With Sanofi as our partner, we guided everyone through a meaningful discussion, wrapping up with a personal letter-writing activity. It was the perfect way to close out the event.
After our closing photos, as usual, no one wanted to leave! We’re all tired, but it’s that great feeling of connection and belonging. We never want to Moms’ Night Out events to end!
Next up: Minneapolis in September and Phoenix in October!
About Your Host
Stacey Simms is the host of the long-running and award-winning podcast, Diabetes Connections. She is the author of “The World’s Worst Diabetes Mom, Real-Life Stories of Parenting a Child with Type 1 Diabetes,” and the upcoming “STILL The World’s Worst Diabetes Mom.”
Stacey’s son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just before he turned two, back in 2006; she’s been sharing her family’s experience with T1D ever since.
She has been featured in almost every diabetes publication and outlet including: Diabetes Self-Management and Diabetes Forecast magazines, Beyond Type 1, JDRF, Diabetes Daily, Healthline, DiaTribe, T1D Everyday Magic and more.
Contact Us
FAQs
This is a conference designed for mothers of children with diabetes, with a focus on type 1. We will not turn any adult in the diabetes community away, but all of our programming is geared to moms. Please, no children in the conference space, this is meant to be a relaxing kid-free respite.
Friday:
4pm Doors open, get your swag bag!
4-6:30pm Vendor Fair
4-6:30pm Check-Ins with educators (advance signups)
5-6:30pm Cocktails & Crafts
6:30pm Dinner & Opening keynote
8pm – Socialize and hang out!
Saturday:
9am Coffee & Breakfast
9:30am Panel
10:30 Closing keynote
12:00pm T.E.A. Party (light refreshments)
Relax & socialize before you head back home
No, but we urge you to do so! Part of the fun (and learning) at this conference is about being away from your children with diabetes, something we moms rarely get to do. Staying at the hotel is not required, but there will be informal socializing there after dinner and in the morning that you won’t want to miss.
No. The only groups that are allowed to hand out literature and/or demonstrate products are those with an agreement with us. There are lots of lower-cost options. Please let us know if you’re interested.
We will adhere to all local and state laws, rules, and regulations to reduce the risk of spreading COVID. We encourage everyone who is eligible to be fully vaccinated. We strongly encourage everyone to self-test with a rapid antigen test before coming to the conference.
We’d love to take this show on the road! Reach out at info@diabetes-connections.com and let us know where we should go next!
