World-first Global Summit to End Diabetes Stigma Announced
The Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes (ACBRD) is proud to announce the inaugural Global Summit to End Diabetes Stigma, a world-first event that will bring together advocates and global leaders, united in bringing an end to diabetes stigma and discrimination.
Funded by Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), the leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organisation, the Global Summit will take place in India (venue and date to be announced).
A Critical Step Forward To #EndDiabetesStigma
Diabetes stigma affects four in five people living with diabetes worldwide, creating significant barriers to healthcare, self-care, and overall wellbeing. The Global Summit to End Diabetes Stigma will serve as a catalyst for action, bringing together diverse stakeholders to accelerate progress in eliminating stigma and discrimination.
Professor Jane Speight is the Foundation Director of the ACBRD, a partnership between Diabetes Victoria and Deakin University. She co-led an expert panel of 51 people from 18 countries to develop the international consensus, which offers clear, evidence-based recommendations for collective action to end diabetes stigma.
Professor Speight emphasised the importance of this initiative: “Since its launch in November 2023, the Pledge has been taken by around 3,500 organisations and individuals in 111 countries across the world. The Global Summit to End Diabetes Stigma is the next logical and powerful step. It will drive the next wave of global action.”
Diabetes Victoria CEO, Glen Noonan, reinforced the urgency of the issue: “Blame, shame, judgment and stereotypes create real and harmful barriers to healthcare, self-care, physical health and emotional wellbeing for people living with diabetes. One in five people report being treated differently due to their diabetes. This is discrimination, which has profound negative impacts on people’s daily lives, healthcare, education, employment, and relationships. It's time to break down these barriers and ensure care and respect for all people living with or affected by diabetes."
For Anita Sabidi, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for 27 years in Indonesia, the impact of diabetes stigma is personal: “Experiencing diabetes stigma has been a significant challenge for me. This Summit offers me hope for a future where people with diabetes are understood and respected, free from judgement.”
A Collaborative Global Effort
Stephanie Pearson, Senior Director of Global Responsibility at Breakthrough T1D shared: “Breakthrough T1D is excited to support the ACBRD to deliver the Global Summit to End Diabetes Stigma. This pioneering initiative aligns with our mission to improve the lives of all people affected by type 1 diabetes. We are committed to collaborative efforts that challenge misconceptions and promote inclusivity.”
Over two days, the Summit will be a pivotal event at which stakeholders will share:
- the latest global and local insights, initiatives and research
- innovative real-world strategies, success stories and best practice
- ongoing challenges and opportunities
- collaborations and partnerships
- indicators of progress in collective efforts for policy, healthcare, and societal change
Making the Summit Accessible to All
The ACBRD acknowledges the invaluable support of Breakthrough T1D, whose funding ensures the Summit will be accessible to a diverse range of participants, including people with lived experience, global leaders, researchers, healthcare professionals, advocates, and many more – including many from low-to-middle-income countries – all united to drive real change. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to creating a world where people with diabetes are treated with dignity, respect, and equity.
Professor Jane Speight said, “We are deeply grateful to Breakthrough T1D for their support of this world-first initiative. Their commitment to fostering inclusivity and driving global collaboration is invaluable to our collective mission to end diabetes stigma and create a more compassionate and respectful world for all people living with diabetes”.
About the Pledge to End Diabetes Stigma and the Global Summit
About the International Consensus to End Diabetes Stigma and Discrimination
About The Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes (ACBRD)
The ACBRD was launched in 2010 as a partnership for better health between Diabetes Victoria and Deakin University. As the result of this successful 15-year partnership between a community-based and an academic organisation, the Centre is uniquely positioned to combine evidence and practice to address the unmet needs of people with diabetes. Through strategic collaborations, and with generous supporters such as Breakthrough T1D, the ACBRD creates new knowledge and develops transformational evidence-based resources to bring research findings into policy and clinical practice to improve the health and quality of life of people living with, or affected by, diabetes. For more information, visit: www.acbrd.org.au or contact info@acbrd.org.au.
About Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF)
As the leading global T1D research and advocacy organisation, Breakthrough T1D helps make everyday life with T1D better while driving toward cures. We do this by investing in the most promising research, advocating for progress by working with government to address issues that impact the T1D community, and helping educate and empower individuals facing this condition.
Contact
Professor Jane Speight, Foundation Director, The Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes: Diabetes Victoria and Deakin University (E: jspeight@acbrd.org.au)
Media Release
Download the media release here.
