Throughout the years, Diabetes Victoria aims to support, empower and campaign for all Victorian affected by diabetes. National Diabetes Week and World Diabetes Day are opportunities to put diabetes in the spotlight and ensure the world hears our message. Here, you can see all of our historical campaigns and keep up to date with our latest campaign information.
Diabetes is a complex condition. It is often misunderstood.
Negative attitudes and beliefs affect many people living with diabetes – with a very real impact on their self-care, physical health, mental health and quality of life.
Let’s reduce the blame and shame around diabetes. Let’s replace it with respect and compassion, so that people with diabetes are supported to live healthier and happier lives.
Living with diabetes can be tough, affecting people living with diabetes both physically and emotionally.
According to the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes, more than 4 in 5 people with diabetes have experienced diabetes stigma at some point in their lives. This means that many people with diabetes feel they have been judged or treated differently than others because of their diabetes.
There are many forms of stigma, and many ways to experience stigma.
Some people have been blamed or shamed for having diabetes or a diabetes-related complication. Others have been judged when they eat certain foods, check their glucose or inject insulin in a public setting. And some people with diabetes even blame themselves and feel ashamed for having diabetes.
Sometimes diabetes-related stigma is based on a lack of understanding. But sometimes it is based on negative attitudes or prejudice.
The stigma around diabetes affects many people living with diabetes – with a very real impact on their self-care, physical health, mental health and quality of life.
Let’s change the way we talk about diabetes by showing compassion and respect.
Let’s think again. Let’s reduce diabetes stigma.
Lived experience
Head to Diabetes Victoria’s campaign website to hear from people living with diabetes. Learn how diabetes stigma affects their life. You’ll get to know BJ, Carol, Justin, Jade, Shannon, Jane, Jacqueline and Gabby – who have all experienced negative attitudes and beliefs around diabetes in very different ways.
“I learned that many, many, of the people I ‘networked’ with in those days were living furtively with diabetes and its complications. Stigma had silenced them.”
“But most of all, it’s the time you realise how much energy you’ve wasted worrying about what people say or think. Because mostly, they’re not thinking it at all, or are genuinely just trying to help.”
“I still get the odd person who looks at me while eating a chocolate and says ‘should you really be eating that?’ but I now take the time to explain it. I’ve learned that persistence in your health plan and patience with those who care about you, will help change some of the misinformed views of diabetes.”
“I just wanted to ‘fit in’ and ‘feel normal’, however was aware that many people associate diabetes with obesity, lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet. I struggled with both my own individual judgement of myself, as well as stigma within the community.”
“It is easy to be consumed by numbers living with type 1 diabetes. Monitoring blood glucose levels all day, every day. Because diabetes is invisible, there is often a misconception that it is as simple as taking insulin and eating (or not eating) certain foods, but this is far from true.”
“I see, feel and read the judgement everywhere. Sometimes I can deal with it and recognise that it is probably just me putting words and thoughts into other people’s minds but sometimes it can bring me completely undone.”
Diabetes is a serious and complex condition that affects at least 1.7 million Australians. It is the seventh and eighth leading cause of death in females and males respectively, and the fourth largest contributor to overall disease burden in Australia. The costs associated with diabetes are substantial. The total cost of diabetes annually in Victoria has been estimated to be as high as $3.6 billion.
As the voice for the diabetes community, Diabetes Victoria places diabetes high on the agenda of change makers through our advocacy and awareness-raising efforts. We promote issues and campaigns to address the impact of diabetes in our community, lead the way in diabetes prevention, management and research and maximise health resources to assist people living with diabetes.
Diabetes Victoria works with many partner organisations, committees and communities to maximise our reach and impact for our campaigns. Among our partner organisations are The Parents’ Voice and The Obesity Policy Coalition.
Nurses make the difference
This year, the World Diabetes Day campaign focuses on promoting the role of nurses in the prevention and management of diabetes. Diabetes is a complex and serious condition that requires careful day-to-day management. This can be overwhelming, especially for those newly diagnosed. This is why we’d like to thank all nurses and health professionals for their help and assistance.
WDD PODCAST
Did you know that 2020 is also the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife? Reason enough for us to invite diabetes nurse educator Deb Gooley as special guest to our Living Well with Diabetes podcast, hosted by former AFL player Jack Fitzpatrick.
In the podcast, which will be available on 12 November, the two chat about Deb’s career and how she has been supporting people living with, or affected by, diabetes. You can catch up on this and all other episodes here: diabetesvic.org.au/podcasts
WDD VIDEO
Our new video, part of the Back to Basics series, explains the role nurses play for people living diabetes. The sixty second video explores how nurses can help people when they are newly diagnosed with diabetes, need other diabetes management guidance or have gestational diabetes.
The video will be launched on 9 November, and you can watch it here:
A thank you message to the Diabetes Nurse Educators out there from Eddie, Walaa, and Kate:
Tune in to our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn) where we will have a great line up of content supporting the campaign.
Join in the celebration and share the message on social media. Download our social media tiles below!
Facebook
BLUE MONUMENT CHALLENGE
Joining the international Blue Monument Challenge on World Diabetes Day, Diabetes Victoria will raise awareness of the impact that diabetes has on those who live with the condition, as well as their families and support networks.
On 14 November, Diabetes Victoria will head to regional Victoria to light up part of the GMHBA Stadium at Kardinia Park in Geelong in blue – as a testament to the worldwide effort to raise awareness about the seriousness and complexity of this condition.
When Anna Moresby was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1940, she received the grim prediction that she wouldn’t live to see her 30th birthday. But Anna has defied all odds and is now the first Victorian female to reach the amazing milestone of living with diabetes for 80 years.
In this spirit, Diabetes Victoria is launching a new awareness campaign with the theme ‘80 reasons to celebrate’ for National Diabetes Week 2020 (from Sunday 12 to Saturday 18 July), honouring Anna Moresby’s remarkable achievement of living with diabetes for 80 years. National Diabetes Week is celebrated each year to raise awareness about all types of diabetes.
Campaign materials will be available on the campaign page: diabetesvic.org.au/NDW2020 from Monday 6 July. Via this page, you can listen to our special National Diabetes Week podcast episode with Anna and learn more about each of our 2020 Kellion Victory Medal recipients.
Tune in to our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn) where we will have a great line up of content supporting the campaign. During National Diabetes Week we will also be announcing the recipients of the 2020 Gwen Scott Grant.
Sadly, Anna Moresby passed away in June 2021, aged 85. Anna was a delight to be around. She provided us with many insights into living so well for such a long time with diabetes, and we are grateful to have known her. Diabetes Victoria extends our sympathy to her family and friends.
Diabetes Australia’s Heads Up on Diabetes Campaign
Heads Up On DiabetesOn Monday July 13 2020, Minister for Health, The Hon Greg Hunt MP, published a media release announcing the commencement of National Diabetes Week 2020.
2019: World Diabetes Day: My diabetes, my family. All in it together
Diabetes is a serious and complex condition that affects at least 1.7 million Australians. It is the seventh and eighth leading cause of death in females and males respectively, and the fourth largest contributor to overall disease burden in Australia. The costs associated with diabetes are substantial. The total cost of diabetes annually in Victoria has been estimated to be as high as $3.6 billion.
As the voice for the diabetes community, Diabetes Victoria places diabetes high on the agenda of change makers through our advocacy and awareness-raising efforts. We promote issues and campaigns to address the impact of diabetes in our community, lead the way in diabetes prevention, management and research and maximise health resources to assist people living with diabetes.
Diabetes Victoria works with many partner organisations, committees and communities to maximise our reach and impact for our campaigns. Among our partner organisations are The Parents’ Voice and The Obesity Policy Coalition.
World Diabetes Day 2019: My diabetes, my family. All in it together.
World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on 14 November. It is the leading global diabetes awareness and advocacy campaign, officially recognised by the United Nations and led by the International Diabetes Federation. Continuing last year’s messaging, as promoted by the IDF, the 2019 theme is Diabetes: Protect your Family.
Diabetes Victoria is supporting this campaign with the message:
My diabetes, my family. All in it together.
Diabetes concerns every family. More than 338,000 Victorians live with diabetes and are registered with the National Diabetes Services Scheme. Diabetes Victoria estimates that an additional 150,000 Victorians do not know that they have type 2 diabetes and that another 750,000 Victorians have elevated blood glucose levels, which puts them at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
With diabetes on the rise, it’s likely that everybody will know someone with diabetes.
Back to Basics for World Diabetes Day
During National Diabetes Week in July, Diabetes Victoria launched a new awareness campaign, Back to Basics. This series of short videos will help educate Victorians about diabetes, one of the most misunderstood health conditions For World Diabetes Day, a new video was launched in the series exploring the question: What’s it like to grow up with type 1 diabetes?
In this short video, 10-year-old Justin explains when and how he was diagnosed, and how the condition affects everyday family life. His mum Jade also speaks about how many decisions every single day are affected by diabetes.
Further videos in this series will be released in the upcoming months.
Funding vital diabetes research
The Diabetes Australia Research Program (DARP) was established in 1987 to support and develop diabetes-related research. This national, competitive and peer-reviewed program provides funding towards the prevention, management and (hopefully) a cure for all types of diabetes, by enabling and fostering world-class diabetes researchers.
On World Diabetes Day, Diabetes Victoria will announce the successful Victorian research projects which will receive funding in 2020. The total funding pool will comprise $4 million, to which Diabetes Victoria has contributed $1.4 million. This builds on a very proud record whereby Diabetes Victoria has contributed more than $17 million since 2000.
Blue Monument Challenge
Along with diabetes organisations throughout the world, Diabetes Victoria participates in the ‘Blue Monument Challenge’ on World Diabetes Day. This challenge was launched in 2007 and since then, thousands of iconic sites and buildings in over 80 countries have gone blue to raise awareness about diabetes.
This year, we lit up the Walker Fountain in the Kings Domain, Melbourne, in blue – the international colour for diabetes.
World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on 14 November. It is the leading global diabetes awareness and advocacy campaign, officially recognised by the United Nations and led by the International Diabetes Federation. The theme for 2018 World Diabetes Day is The Family and Diabetes.
Diabetes Victoria is supporting this campaign with the message:
My diabetes family.
Diabetes concerns every family. More than 328,000 Victorians live with and a further 125,000 Victorians have undiagnosed diabetes. Almost 80 people in Victoria develop the condition every day. With diabetes on the rise, it’s likely that everybody will know someone with diabetes.
Funding vital diabetes research
The Diabetes Australia Research Program (DARP) was established in 1987 to support and develop diabetes-related research. This national, competitive and peer-reviewed program provides funding towards the prevention, management and (hopefully) a cure for all types of diabetes, by enabling and fostering world-class diabetes researchers.
On the eve of World Diabetes Day, Diabetes Victoria will announce the successful Victorian research projects which will receive funding in 2019. The total funding pool will comprise $3.6 million, to which Diabetes Victoria has contributed $1.4 million. This builds on a very proud record whereby Diabetes Victoria has contributed almost $17 million since 2000.
The Victorian DARP recipients were acknowledged at this function by key note speaker Susan Alberti AC, the 2018 Victorian of the Year Award Winner, and the Hon Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria and Patron of Diabetes Victoria.
A recap of the evening’s proceedings can be found here.
Blue Monument Challenge
Along with diabetes organisations throughout the world, Diabetes Victoria participates in the ‘Blue Monument Challenge’ on World Diabetes Day. This challenge was launched in 2007 and since then, thousands of iconic sites and buildings in over 80 countries have gone blue to raise awareness about diabetes.
This year, Diabetes Victoria will light up the façade of the Melbourne Town Hall in blue.
What YOU can do this World Diabetes Day
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay up to date on all our World Diabetes Day activities and family stories.
If you’re in Melbourne on 14 November; join us as we shine a light on diabetes at the Melbourne Town Hall. Don’t forget take a few pics and share using the hashtags #wdd2018 and #mydiabetesfamily – remember to tag us too!
Share your My diabetes family story on World Diabetes Day and have a chance to win a $400 Mantra voucher for a My diabetes family holiday. All photos/posts from shared by Australias social media users with the #mydiabetesfamily hashtag, that are posted on World Diabetes Day, will go into the draw – good luck!
Need some inspiration? Read 10 year old Justin’s My Diabetes Family story.
On the eve of World Diabetes Day, Diabetes Victoria celebrated with a reception for 120 guests at Government House, hosted by Her Excellency the Hon Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria and Patron of Diabetes Victoria, and Mr Anthony Howard QC.
The prestigious 2019 Diabetes Australian Research Program (DARP) awards were presented to 21 Victorian researchers who successfully secured a large slice of the $3.6 million funding pool. Diabetes Victoria contributed $1.4 million of this, building on a very proud record of almost $17 million since 2000.
The 2019 Victorian DARP grant awardees are from renowned organisations such as Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Monash University, Deakin University, University of Melbourne, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research.
Established in 1987, DARP supports and develops outstanding diabetes-related research across Australia. The program provides funding towards the prevention, management and cure of all types of diabetes, as well as enabling and fostering young and upcoming researchers in the field of diabetes research. Each year outstanding research projects are selected through a merit-based, competitive, peer review process. This year 52 projects were selected from the 320 applications received.
For more information on the DARP recipients, please click here.
Attendees were treated to a guest speech from Susan Alberti AC, 2018 Victorian of the Year, philanthropist and diabetes advocate:
“This is an important day of reflection for those who have diabetes and their loved ones. By funding our leading researchers to find better ways to treat, prevent and find a cure for diabetes, Diabetes Victoria will continue to be at the forefront of advocacy and empowerment for people living with this chronic condition.”
World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year around the globe on 14 November. This date was chosen because it marks the anniversary of the birth of Sir Frederick Banting in 1891. Banting was an important Canadian clinician and researcher who, in conjunction with Charles Best in the early 1920s, made some profound discoveries about the role of insulin in monitoring blood glucose levels within our bodies.
This World Diabetes Day, Diabetes Victoria supported the International Diabetes Federation’s awareness campaign with the message: My diabetes family. All in it together.
Diabetes is a very demanding condition. Family often plays a key support role for those living with diabetes, providing emotional support and assistance with the day-to-day management of this relentless condition.
Diabetes Victoria joined the international Blue Monument Challenge and light up the Melbourne Town Hall façade in blue as a testament to the worldwide effort to raise awareness about diabetes and to engage the global diabetes community.
2018: ConnecT1ons: help parents of kids with type 1 diabetes
ConnecT1ons: help parents of kids with type 1 diabetes
This campaign has ended.
Over the past 12 months, Diabetes Victoria has been working on a project for parents of children living with type 1 diabetes. From the conversations we had with parents as part of this project, we know these parents feel sleep-deprived and stressed. They rarely have a break or have opportunities to meet other parents of type 1 kids. Read Kim Henshaw’s blog about the project and the Parent Consultation: Preliminary Report.
Jade is just one of the parents we spoke to as part of this project. Her son Justin was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 5 years ago and she has been working hard to give him a happy, healthy childhood.
That’s why, from Monday 27 August, Diabetes Victoria is supporting a crowdfunding campaign to help parents like Jade. All donations will go directly towards funding ConnecT1ons, an event that will give parents a break and let them connect with other parents of kids with type 1 diabetes.
By raising $15,000 we can run a ConnecT1ons event for 100 parents while their kids are safe and having fun at diabetes camp. By raising $30,000 we can run 2 of these events, helping 200 parents.
Diabetes Victoria’s new awareness campaign, Bust a Myth, kicks off on Monday 4 June 2018.
This theme will help to bust some of the most common myths around diabetes – and will help Victorians to understand more about the condition.
Bust a Myth provides Diabetes Victoria with the opportunity to raise awareness about all types of diabetes and the myriad of myths surrounding the condition.
We have chosen five common myths to bust during the week. Every day, we will debunk one common myth around diabetes.
This campaign, scheduled to run from Monday 4 June to Friday 8 June, consists of five videos and campaign materials, which will run across digital, social and print media. By busting these five diabetes myths we will help dispel the stigma for people living with any type of diabetes.
What you can do:
Display our campaign poster in a prominent place. The poster will be available from Monday 4 June here.
Visit the website: bustamyth.org.au (live from Monday 4 June) to learn more about how Diabetes Victoria is campaigning for people living with diabetes.
Diabetes Victoria was celebrating World Diabetes Day 2017 on Tuesday 14 November and the 2017 theme was: To the women of diabetes – thank you. We were taking the opportunity to recognise the day-to-day achievements of women in the field of diabetes – many of which go unnoticed. Women are often responsible for ensuring their loved ones’ diabetes is managed, many work as diabetes nurse educators and researchers, and many live with diabetes themselves. This year we want to thank all these women who are touched by diabetes in some capacity. Join us: Download a social media pack now and check out our blog post.
Blue Monument Challenge
Diabetes Victoria also joined the International Diabetes Federation’s annual monument challenge. In Melbourne, the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre building was lit up in blue as a testimony to the worldwide effort to raise awareness for diabetes and to engage the global diabetes community.
National Diabetes Week is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness about all types of diabetes and how this condition affects Australians. Every day, almost 300 Australians develop diabetes. This year, Diabetes Victoria is launching a digital awareness campaign to coincide with National Diabetes Week 2017 (9-15 July). OurInvisible Condition campaign is directed to all people affected by, or at risk of, diabetes.
This campaign aims to raise awareness of all types of diabetes and highlights the invisible nature of diabetes; why diabetes is too important to ignore; how people can take a stand; and how they can make their mark by asking their local Member of Parliament to provide more funding for diabetes research – which may lead to a cure.
Diabetes Victoria is calling on all Victorians to support this campaign to help raise awareness of diabetes during National Diabetes Week 2017.
Ways to support the campaign:
Share our 30-second video highlighting the fact that diabetes is an invisible condition which affects people from all walks of life.
Download our campaign materials and display our campaign materials in a prominent place.
Download and share the social media tiles and prepared posts. Don’t forget to use the hashtag: #InvisibleCondition
Link your posts to our campaign website: invisiblecondition.org.au
Share your story via our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
Sign our petition or write a letter to your local Member of Parliament highlighting that diabetes is too important to ignore.
Donate to Diabetes Victoria to help fund vital services and research.
2016: Eyes on diabetes campaign for World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on 14 November. It is the leading global diabetes awareness and advocacy campaign, officially recognised by the United Nations and led by the International Diabetes Federation. The theme for 2016 World Diabetes Day is ‘Eyes on diabetes’ as diabetes can lead to health complications, including blindness.
According to the International Diabetes Federation at current growth rates, there will be about 642 million people living with diabetes by 2040.
In Australia, around 1.7 million people are living with diabetes and a further 280 develop diabetes every day. In Victoria 74 people develop diabetes every day.
Everyone with diabetes is at risk of losing vision. Management of blood glucose levels, blood pressure and blood lipids, as well as timely treatment, can reduce the incidence of eye disease and vision loss.
What YOU can do this World Diabetes Day
Donate $74 to Diabetes Victoria – a dollar for each Victorian that will develop diabetes today. All donations will help us to fight the type 2 diabetes epidemic by providing funds to diabetes research, prevention programs and education services.
Host a healthy morning tea with friends, colleagues or classmates and collect gold coin donations.
Raise awareness by sharing our World Diabetes Day messages on social media, using #WDD16, #WorldDiabetesDay and #diabetes hashtags. Click here for our social media materials.
Every year, Diabetes Victoria is celebrating the Victorian recipients of the Diabetes Australia Research Program (DARP) at a special event in the lead-up to World Diabetes Day. For 2017, Diabetes Victoria has contributed $1.3 million to the $3.6 million DARP funding pool, directly supporting 17 Victorian researchers looking into better treatment and management options for all types of diabetes, as well as reducing the risk of well-documented serious health complications. Read more in our media release.
Blue Monument Challenge
The lighting up of the northern façade Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building, in blue will take place at 8pm on 14 November as part of the International Diabetes Federation monument challenge.
The ‘Blue Monument Challenge’ was launched in 2007 to mark the first United Nations observed World Diabetes Day. Since then thousands of iconic sites and buildings in over 80 countries have gone blue to raise diabetes awareness on World Diabetes Day.
Every day, 280 Australians develop diabetes. Building on last year’s campaign, Diabetes Victoria is running a positive awareness campaign for National Diabetes Week 2016 (10-16 July).
‘We are here to help you!’ is directed to all people affected by and at risk of developing diabetes. The campaign raises awareness for all types of diabetes and shows solutions how to live well with the chronic condition. We want our message to be uplifting, highlighting how we can work together to ensure diabetes won’t stop anybody living a long and healthy life.
Ways to support the campaign
Download and share the social media tiles and prepared posts. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #NDW16.
The World Health Organisation has dedicated this year’s World Health Day to increase the awareness about the global rise in diabetes.
According to the International Diabetes Federation at current growth rates, there will be about 642 million people living with diabetes by 2040.
In Australia, around 1.7 million people are living with diabetes and a further 280 develop diabetes every day. In Victoria 74 people develop diabetes every day.
What can YOU do this World Health Day?
Donate $74 to Diabetes Victoria – a dollar for each Victorian that will develop diabetes today. All donations will help us to fight the type 2 diabetes epidemic by providing funds to diabetes research, prevention programs and education services.
Host a healthy morning tea with friends, colleagues or classmates and collect gold coin donations.
Raise awareness by sharing our World Health Day message on social media, using #WHD2016 and #diabetes hashtags.
This year’s NDW campaign raises awareness of all types of diabetes – 280 a day refers to the number of people who develop diabetes every single day. Diabetes Victoria promotes the message that ‘you don’t have to be old or overweight’ to develop diabetes.
NDW 2015 campaign posterThe national television advertisement features 280 images of people with diabetes – representing the 280 people who develop diabetes every day in Australia. It will feature ten ‘hero’ images that will be on screen for approximately 2 seconds – some with people managing their diabetes and some with the serious complications of diabetes including heart disease, stroke, amputation and blindness. The campaign call to action will be ‘What do you need to know about diabetes?’
The aim of the campaign is to increase knowledge and understanding in the general population about diabetes so those that don’t have diabetes better understand the condition and can support those who do.
Ways to support the campaign
Raise awareness using the #280aday hashtag
Share your story about “what you know about diabetes” via our Facebook page
Display the campaign materials in a prominent place.
World Diabetes Day is celebrated around the globe every year on 14 November. It brings together millions of people in over 160 countries to raise awareness of diabetes, including children and adults affected by diabetes, politicians, healthcare professionals, healthcare decision-makers and the media.
Act to change your life today – this is the theme for World Diabetes Day 2015. The campaign focuses on healthy eating and how it can positively affect the management of all types of diabetes. Healthy foods are good for everybody and play a vital role in preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes.
What should I eat?
With so much conflicting advice, it can sometimes be hard to know which foods you should eat more of every day – and which to better only eat from time to time. Diabetes Victoria has developed a short ten minute video clip called Healthy eating which will explain the different food groups, recommended portion sizes, healthy cooking methods and sample meal plans. The video is available in English, Italian, Greek, Vietnamese, Chinese and Arabic. You can watch it here:
Check your risk!
Do you know anybody who might be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes? Please let them know about the Life! program, Australia’s largest lifestyle modification program that helps to prevent type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. On the website, there is a test to learn more about somebody’s individual risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next 5 years. Head over to lifeprogram.org.au and find out!
Two million Australians are at high risk of type 2 diabetes. To coincide with National Diabetes Week, Diabetes Australia launched a new prevention campaign urging all Australians to see if they are at risk of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed in up to 58 percent of cases through early detection and lifestyle modification. The campaign will also feature the personal stories of people who have prevented and who are living with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes Australia represents all people affected by all types of diabetes. The aim of the 2014 National Diabetes Week campaign is to raise awareness of the seriousness and prevalence of type 2 diabetes and encourage all Australians to check their risk.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of all types of diabetes, the continuing rise of the epidemic, and the very significant financial implications of the diabetes epidemic and need for the Australian Government to urgently develop and implement a new National Diabetes Strategy. The campaign emphasise the human face of diabetes.
Diabetes Australia CEO Greg Johnson says: “The continuing rise of this epidemic and the high impact on everyday Australians cannot be ignored.”
Type 2 diabetes is Australia’s fastest growing chronic condition with about 275 adults diagnosed every day. But what a lot of people don’t realise is that type 2 diabetes is largely preventable.
For decades, we’ve been told to wear seatbelts and helmets to reduce fatalities on our roads, and while out on the water we are required to wear a lifejacket.
But when it comes to type 2 diabetes we’re missing the mark.
Diabetes Australia and Vision 2020 have joined forces for a National Diabetes Week campaign. The ‘Diabetes: Don’t be blind to the risks’ campaign is twofold around encouraging the two million Australians at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes to assess their risk and also encouraging the one million Australians who have known diabetes to have regular eye checks.
Type 2 diabetes continues to be the fastest growing chronic disease in Australia with many Australians not realising the seriousness of developing type 2 diabetes, and the ongoing health and lifestyle complications including blindness, before it is too late.
Diabetic eye disease or retinopathy is a significant cause of vision loss and blindness in adult Australians. About one in six people with diabetes is affected by retinopathy.
The diabetes epidemic is growing by a staggering 275 new cases every day and we have 1 million Australians registered on the National Diabetes Services Scheme. For every person known to have type 2 diabetes another is yet to be diagnosed.The burden of type 2 diabetes is increasing and it is expected to become the leading cause of disease burden by 2023.
Real life stories
Rod Kafer
Rod Kafer is a former rugby player who played for both Australia and the ACT brumbies. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 15 and has lived with diabetes for 25 years
Dale Weightman
Dale Weightman is a former champion AFL player for the Richmond Tigers. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 23 but that didn’t stop him having a successful career including a premiership and captaincy of both his beloved Tigers and Victoria.
Fifty-one year old Dale has recently had more serious eye problems to worry about. “I began getting my eyes tested regularly five years ago. Lucky I did as they found I had diabetic retinopathy. My sight suffered but they were able to fix me up.”
Dale is thankful for getting regular eyes checks. “It’s important that everyone knows that with diabetes your eyes are at risk. Get your eyes checked before it’s too late.”
Jamie Cripps
Jamie Cripps is 19 years old and plays AFL club St Kilda. Jamie was diagnosed last year with type 1 diabetes shortly after being recruited as St Kilda’s number one draft pick.
After hearing about this campaign Jamie is going to have his eyes checked for the first time. “I’m going to get my eyes checked regularly and you should do the same.”
2010: ‘Prevent type 2 diabetes and AVOID kidney damage’
People with diabetes are three times more likely to develop kidney damage. Diabetes and kidney damage was the focus of the National Diabetes Week campaign in 2010.
Key facts about diabetes and kidney damage
Kidneys are important to your health and quality of life. They filter and excrete waste products, help regulate blood pressure, help keep your bones strong and stimulate the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body
People with diabetes are three times more likely to develop kidney damage 16% (1 in 7) of adults over 25 years have at least one sign of kidney damage
Kidney damage increases the risk of end-stage renal disease, cardiovascular disease and death
New dialysis patients with type 2 diabetes has doubled in the past eight years
The type 2 diabetes epidemic will lead to a further increase in the number of people with kidney failure.
All Victorians are encouraged to
Call 1300 136 588 for more information on type 2 diabetes prevention
Assess your risk of type 2 diabetes. Call 13 RISK (13 7475) or take the online diabetes risk test
Visit your GP to discuss your risk of type 2 diabetes
If you are at risk of type 2 diabetes, join a Life! course or use the telephone health coaching service.
Download resources
The following resources for the PREVENT diabetes and AVOID kidney damage campaign are available to download:
Walking is a simple way to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. If you walk for at least 30 minutes most days of the week you will improve your health, reduce your weight and feel terrific.
Why not walk with a friend, have a chat and help motivate each other to get fit?
2008: ‘Type 2 Diabetes Often Runs In Families’ campaign
Over 850,000 Australians have been diagnosed with diabetes. The same number again may have it but not know it. DIABETES ACT!ON is Diabetes Australia’s annual National Diabetes Action Program campaign. It aims to increase awareness that a family history of type 2 diabetes and a large waist circumference are risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
Talk to your family about diabetes and see your doctor.
Diabetes Australia’s new campaign aims to increase awareness that a large waist measurement is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
A new television commercial urges Australians to take action and measure their waists to assess their risk. The commercial informs people that men with a waistline of over 100cm and women with a waistline of over 90cm are in the highest risk category for developing type 2 diabetes.
The campaign’s call to action is Measure Yourself and the key message is Reduce your waist. Reduce your risk.
2006: “Diabetes is often the heart of the problem’
Diabetes is at the heart of many health problems. People with diabetes are up to four times more likely to have heart disease or stroke and many are not aware of the link between diabetes and these serious consequences. As the campaign points out: Diabetes is often the heart of the problem.
2005: ‘Diabetes: It’s time you opened your eyes to the risk’
Millions of Australians are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and the serious health complications including heart attacks, strokes, blindness and limb amputations. But most Australians don’t think diabetes is serious, don’t know if they are at risk, and don’t think they’ll get it. Diabetes is too serious to ignore.
This is the hard-hitting message behind the image of a leg amputation – one of the most dreadful human costs of diabetes.
