Campaigns World Diabetes Day World Diabetes Day falls on November 14, with the aim to promote awareness of diabetes and diabetes-related issues on a global scale. In 2023 Diabetes Australia reached out to the community to join us in calling for more funding for vital diabetes research. Over the past 12 years, Diabetes Australia have invested more than $36 million to support vital research projects, which has led to better understanding and new medicines to improve the lives of those living with diabetes, as well as multiple resources to help promote better understanding of all diabetes-related areas and barriers. Find out more about this year’s World Diabetes Day focus, and how you can make an impact. Speak out to spark change When Australia’s diabetes community is united in the fight for change, we can achieve anything. Millions of Australians are living with diabetes, and the impact is significant. People with diabetes are at the heart of everything we do at Diabetes Australia. We know that no one understands diabetes better than you, and that’s why your views and opinions are so important. We need your help as we unite in the fight against Australia’s biggest health crisis. Speak Out and help us to Spark Change. Together, we can change lives. Tell us what issues matter to you, or show your support for issues that others are concerned about. Act now. Spark change. National Diabetes Week Australia’s National Diabetes Week falls in July every year. In 2023 we started Australia’s biggest conversation about the impact of diabetes in Australia – a conversation to drive change, and to create hope for the future. No one understands diabetes more than a person who lives with diabetes. Driving change starts with hearing the views and amplifying the voices of the diabetes community. We asked people to: Take part in the online conversation throughout the week about the impact of diabetes in Australia, featuring real people with all types of diabetes sharing their hope for the future and the change they want to see. Attend the Great Debate series, co-hosted by Diabetes Australia’s Group CEO Justine Cain and Dr Norman Swan AM, featuring people living with diabetes and diabetes experts, discussing the big topics relevant to the future of diabetes in Australia. Raise your voice and provide feedback in our national community consultation to inform Diabetes Australia’s response to the Parliamentary Inquiry. Share your hope for the future and the change you want to see. Find out more about this year’s National Diabetes Week campaign. 2020 – 2022 Campaign In year three of the ‘Heads Up on Diabetes’ campaign we called on Australians to rethink how they think about diabetes. Almost 700,000 people living with diabetes experience a mental or emotional health challenge every year. On top of that, many people living with diabetes experience blame and shame due to misinformation and misconceptions about diabetes. So this National Diabetes Week, let’s rethink how we think about diabetes.Let’s reduce the burden with more compassion.Let’s reduce the blame with more understanding.Let’s reduce the barriers and help people get support.Let’s rethink diabetes. Visit Heads Up on Diabetes to find out more and download campaign resources. 2017 – 2019 Campaign The It’s About Time campaign focused on the need for earlier detection of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. You can view the campaign here. Unite in the fight for change It’s time to unite in the fight for change.Change the numbers. Change the future. Change lives. The diabetes epidemic is one of the largest and most complex health challenges Australia has faced. It touches millions of lives across the country and impacts every part of our health system. And its impact is growing. In the past 20 years, the numbers have dramatically increased by around 220%. If the growth rates continue, there will be more than 3.1 million Australians living with diabetes by 2050 and the annual cost is forecast to grow to about $45 billion per annum in this time. Behind these numbers are real people. People with diabetes who want to live long and live well. These are the people we are uniting for, 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 in the fight for change. The Lowdown The Lowdown is a social media campaign focusing on hypos (a condition when someone’s blood glucose level drops too low, below 4mmol/L). #HyposAddUp is the campaign’s theme for 2022. From the time spent recovering from hypos and the social activities interrupted, to the sleep lost and the cost of all the hypo treatments – it all adds up. The campaign is an opportunity for the diabetes community to discuss their stories and share their experiences of the impacts of hypos. Check it out on our socials and use the hashtag #HyposAddUp to join the conversation. Find out more at here If I Had Known The If I Had Known campaign features real stories of people when they were first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The campaign encourages proactive and informed discussions between people with type 2 diabetes and their general practitioners at the point of diagnosis, and throughout their care, to drive early action on diabetes management. The development of the campaign was informed by focus group research that looked at the key challenges faced by people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The research identified three key barriers that held people back from optimum diabetes self-management: Lack of knowledge: What is diabetes and how do I manage it? Lack of support: Who is there to support me? Not taking diabetes seriously: It’s nothing serious? It is important for people living with diabetes to address these challenges and ensure they are in the best possible position to self-manage the condition. If type 2 diabetes is not managed appropriately it can lead to serious diabetes-related complications. Find out more here Take Diabetes 2 Heart Too many Australians with type 2 diabetes are in a bad relationship with their heart. Take Diabetes 2 Heart is about inspiring people with diabetes, and the people who love them, to take positive steps to better heart health. We want people with diabetes, and the husbands and wives, sons and daughters, nieces and nephews who love them, to take diabetes to heart. If you have a loved one living with type 2 diabetes, we are encouraging you to have a heart-to-heart conversation about looking after their health. Find out more here 4400 Reasons to End Amputations 4400 Reasons to End Amputations is about raising awareness of the need for urgent action to address diabetes-related amputations in Australia. Currently there are 4,400 amputations performed in Australian hospitals every year – and up to 85 per cent of these could be prevented. Diabetes Australia is leading the call for a Diabetes Amputation Prevention Initiative to help end amputations. Find out more here
