To mark Diabetes Australia’s ongoing campaign to Unite in the Fight for Change, the sails of the Sydney Opera House were lit blue on Thursday evening.

We are grateful for the support of the Sydney Opera House to help raise awareness of the impact of diabetes and the need for action to change the lives of millions of Australians.

Since 2006, the blue circle, and colour blue more generally, have provided a universal symbol for diabetes. Introduced as part of a United Nations Resolution to give diabetes a common identity, the circle symbolises unity and the blue border of the circle reflects the colour of the sky and the flag of the United Nations. The United Nations is in itself a symbol of unity amongst nations and is the only organisation that can signal to governments everywhere that it is time to fight diabetes and reverse the global trends that will impede economic development and cause so much suffering and premature death.

Similarly, our new campaign calls for unity in the fight for change.

Without action, diabetes will continue to negatively impact people’s lives and our health system. Our ambition for the future is bold. We want a future where diabetes can do no harm.

Urgent action is needed to:

• Prevent people from developing type 2 diabetes
• Support people with diabetes to live long and live well
• Reduce the health, social and financial impacts of diabetes
• Find a cure.

To achieve this ambition we must drive change.

On the same day as the sails were lit blue, we participated in the launch of the Western Sydney Changing Diabetes initiative. We’re proud to be a partner of Western Sydney Diabetes, working locally to increase the proportion of the healthy population, slow the progression towards being at risk of diabetes, and reduce the size of the at-risk population.

It is initiatives like Western Sydney Changing Diabetes that we will fight for more of, to change the trajectory of the diabetes epidemic.

It’s time to unite to drive change and have a greater impact.

Together we can change the lives of millions of Australians, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, grandparents, and loved ones, who are living with diabetes or will develop the condition in the years ahead. That’s why we are asking all Australians to join us and unite for change.