Don't Sugar Coat Diabetes

Diabetes Awareness Week: 1–30 November 2024

November is Diabetes Action Month, where we’re all about busting myths that surround diabetes so everyone can have a greater awareness and understanding of the condition.

Understanding the facts about diabetes is important to diagnosing, managing, and living well. With so much misinformation circulating, it can be challenging to know what’s fact and what’s fiction.

Heather Verry, CEO of Diabetes NZ, stresses the importance of education during this Diabetes Action Month. ‘By increasing awareness and providing accurate information about diabetes, we can build a more understanding and compassionate community towards people living with diabetes.’

The hope is that with better knowledge there will be less judgement and stigma of people with diabetes. This Diabetes Action Month, it’s time to:

• Get the facts: Learn the truth about diabetes and dispel the myths.

• Get tested: Know the symptoms of type 1 and type 2, find out your risk of developing type 2, and encourage others to get tested.

• Show more aroha: Find out how to support friends and whānau living with diabetes to help reduce the stigma.

RAISING AWARENESS

Diabetes NZ will be launching various initiatives throughout November to raise awareness and funds to support those living with diabetes:

• Know Your Risk quiz: An easy online quiz to help New Zealanders understand their risk of type 2 diabetes.

• New videos, socials, and a podcast: Informative new content to educate the public about diabetes and reduce stigma.

• Sneaker Friday: A fundraising campaign everyone can get involved in that encourages more support for people living with diabetes.

Diabetes Action Month 2024 calls for action from all New Zealanders. By educating ourselves, getting tested, and showing more aroha to those living with diabetes, we can reduce stigma.

WORLD DIABETES DAY

World Diabetes Day on 14 November always coincides with Diabetes Action Month. The theme for World Diabetes Day 2024–26 is ‘Diabetes and Wellbeing’. Over the next three years, this global initiative will focus on:

• Physical wellbeing: The importance of physical activity and a healthy diet to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and manage all types of diabetes and its related complications.

• Societal wellbeing: Highlighting the barriers that restrict a person living with diabetes from living a healthy and fulfilling life.

• Mental wellbeing: Raising awareness of the challenges, stress, and anxiety that living with a chronic condition like diabetes can bring. Highlighting the importance of addressing mental health as part of managing diabetes.

For more information and resources about World Diabetes Day, visit worlddiabetesday.org.

MYTH-BUSTING

How many times do you hear people make throwaway comments about diabetes knowing they just have it wrong. Comments like ‘Should you be eating that?,’ ‘You get diabetes from eating too much sugar,’ or ‘People with diabetes bring it on themselves’ are not just incorrect, they are hurtful too.

When that misinformation is constantly heard or repeated, it can feel like fact when, of course, the opposite is true.

This November, Diabetes NZ is highlighting common myths surrounding diabetes. We’ve taken the most common phrases and provided easy explanations of why they are untrue and how to respond more accurately and thoughtfully.

By busting these myths during Diabetes Action Month and beyond, we hope to set the record straight and provide support for friends and whānau living with diabetes. Reducing the stigma associated with diabetes and making others more aware is the end goal.

SNEAKER FRIDAY

Get ready to lace up your sneakers for Sneaker Friday on 15 November. This annual fundraising campaign encourages everyone to wear their sneakers to work, school, or just out and about to show support for people living with diabetes. By joining in, you're helping Diabetes NZ in their mission to raise funds and support all New Zealanders to live well with diabetes.

Visit our fundraising page so you and your friends and whānau can donate and support people living with diabetes: sneaker-friday-2024.raiselysite.com.

To learn more about Sneaker Friday, visit www.diabetesactionmonth.org.nz

Don't forget to use the hashtag #SneakerFriday and tag @diabetesnz and @diabetes_nz on Facebook and Instagram to share your participation. We can't wait to see how you're getting involved!

For everything DAM-related, visit our Diabetes Action Month website www.diabetesactionmonth.org.nz