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Making healthy kidneys a priority

The Kidney Society team is small, but they do amazing mahi providing support to people (and their whanau and supporters) living with kidney disease in the community.  Manager of Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa, Karen Pickering, met with the new CEO of The Kidney Society, Kath Eastwood, for a discussion which was as inspiring as it was sobering.     Although damage to the kidneys potentially has multiple causes, it is a well known complication associated with diabetes.  &nbs...

Travelling, security, and diabetes

This came across the desk recently from NZSSD.   It was an excellent reminder that people with diabetes have extra considerations when travelling.  Some of the questions that might be asked include what restrictions are there around medications (or syringes/CGM/other), are things different locally versus internationally, how do you manage going through security scanners and x-rays, and what tips are there for safe and stress-free travel?  Diabetes NZ have a page of general ad...

Trusted Websites

The following is a non-exhaustive list of organisations and sites that can be useful sources of information.  Some have resources or run health education/health promotion activities. Diabetes New Zealand - A national organisation which has information for people with diabetes in New Zealand.  The extensive website has some resources and information and they have subscription based magazine service.  There are affiliated branches around the country, an example is the ...

Congratulations Doctor Cassie

We are so excited for, and proud of, our team member Cassie Slade.  Thanks to her amazing mahi she has graduated this year with a PhD in Human nutrition.  Cassie is responsible for the GetWize2Health schools part of the Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa Lifestyle programme.  What's even more amazing, Cassie has now gone back to studying, undertaking a Dietetics Masters Degree at Massey University. We are in AWE of her commitment, congratulations from all of us!...

The South Auckland Diabetes Summit returns for 2024

After not having had a kanohi ki te kanohi or face-to-face event for a couple of years (the last two were online) we have fantastic news.  We have confirmed a date for the 2024 South Auckland Diabetes Summit with venue and exact time (evening) to come. Go here to register your interest and check for details, and watch our Facebook page as we confirm updates. There is information on the previous Summit's here https://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/previous-summits/&nbs...

Presentation at NZSSD - renal disease in young adults with type-2-diabetes

Congratulations to Kanchana Perera for an excellent oral presentation, "Risk of renal disease progression in young adults with type-2-diabetes" at the 2024 NZSSD conference in Christchurch last week.   The abstract describes young adults in Aotearoa New Zealand with Type 2 Diabetes as being at high risk of Diabetic Kidney Disease. The study compared the characteristics of New Zealand European, Māori, and Pasifika young adults (aged 18-40 years) based on a composite Urine Albumin:Creat...

NZSSD Conference 2024 - Christchurch

Another excellent NZSSD (New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes) meeting, held this year in Christchurch at the beautiful Te Pae Christchurch events centre.    There were plenty of excellent sessions, in particular some fantastic up and coming researchers and presenters.   It was great to spent time looking at and talking about some of amazing mahi being done around the country.   Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa had two posters and a presentation delivered by ou...

Richard Main and Gardens4Health - Auckland Council video

This lovely short video from the Community Innovation team at Auckland Council.   It provides a two minute peek at some of the mahi of Richard Main in his role leading Gardens4Health, and talks to representatives of three of the Community Gardens -  Sanctuary Mahi Whenua, Dig-it Community Garden and Headway Garden.  Richard talks about the importance of community gardening, and that the team work with over 100 gardens across Tamaki Makaurau.   As described in the bl...

He Whenua Rongo - Indigenous Seed, Soil and Food Sovereignty Symposium

Ali and Tania from the Gardens4Health team attended the He Whenua Rongo - Indigenous Seed, Soil and Food Sovereignty Symposium, at Papatūānuku Kokiri Marae in Mangere.  Here they learned more about the principles of Hua Parakore, a kaupapa Māori (Indigenous) system and framework for growing kai, based on the infinite richness and wisdom of whānau and hapū. There are six key Hua Parakore kaupapa (principles) that we can work with in the māra; whakapapa, wairua (livi...

Strategic Planning Meeting 2024

Last Friday was another high energy annual strategy planning session for the Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa Board of Trustees.   Thanks to the team at Previously Unavailable for being amazing hosts and providing such a cool venue for the intense discussions that went on among our enthusiastic Trustees.   Present were Chair John Baker, and Board members Graham King, Henry Kozac, Fale Lesa, Ruby McGill, Gerhard Sundborn and Kate Vennell, as well as Clinical Director Kate Smallman...

We have a YouTube Channel

We've finally sorted out somewhere to keep our video content all in one place.    Our YouTube channel will soon start being loaded with videos...some historical gems (did we really look like that!), as well as exciting new content and links to content we've thought was useful.   Go here to check it out Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa video content...

The GetWize2Health Manual...latest incarnation

Hot off the press is the latest version of the GetWize2Health (GW2H) 'Health, Nutrition and Physical Activity teaching resource' for secondary schools.    Congratulations to Schools Facilitator Cassie who has put a huge amount of mahi into this over at least the last 6 months.  The curriculum supporting resource has now been updated, using feedback from schools and the latest research to make sure it's fit for purpose, acceptable and usable for the ever changing secondary school e...

Professor Simmons - Inaugural Chief Medical Officer for Diabetes Australia

Our congratulations to our very own Professor David Simmons, original founder of Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa in South Auckland back in the 1990s, and current Patron.  He's been appointed as the Inaugural Chief Medical Officer for Diabetes Australia, starting the role officially in April 2024.  Press release here.   ...

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) funding for individuals with Type 1 Diabetes

Here's some important things we can all do as advocates to support the ongoing vital campaign to get Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) funding for all people living with Type 1 Diabetes. This includes the following: - Sandra Braithwaite from JDRF suggests approaching your MP with flyers (see three attached for download)- The importance of CGM funding for adults should be emphasised- Look at sharing your personal experiences and the impact of delays in CGM funding on you and your whanau.- Share...

Gardens4Health Autumn Hui and Pānui

The Gardens4Health seasonal hui are an opportunity for our community of gardeners and organisers to come together to celebrate the successes of the season gone by, to share what they have learned, and to share advice as we prepare for the season to come. Our ngahuru / autumn hui hosted at Headway House brought up some great reflections from the season.  Thank you to all the amazing participants who brought their enthusiasm and knowledge.This year the dreaded drought forecast for Tāmaki has...

Celebrating cultural diversity in Manurewa

Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa was proud to be part of the fantastic free community event, Whakanui Te Manurewatanga,  held on Saturday 9th March at Randwick Park, alongside a host of other community organisations.   More information on fliers below.  The event was supported by Manurewa Community Network and Manurewa Local Board, with the aim of the day "recognising cultures, food, fun, festivities and a future for the community of Manurewa".  The event was well atten...

Race result - Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa 70.3 Ironman athletes

Karen and Kate were back in the Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa office on Tuesday after a busy few days away for the annual Lake Taupo Ironman. This time they were doing the 70.30 or half Ironman event and they reported back on their experiences, each covering the total distance of around 113km over three disciplines. The day began standing in the dark with over 1000 other athletes, and as the sun started to come there was the wonderful welcome from mana whenua, Tūwharetoa.  Th...

Team members Kate and Karen...off to 2024 Ironman 70.3

For those who haven't caught up with the exercise journeys of our Clinical Director Kate Smallman, and General Manager Karen Pickering, they take 'walking the walk' to great lengths. The key for these two self described "back of the pack endurance athletes", is to do things their own way.  They acknowledge that for many people, barriers to becoming more physically active, such as age, body-shape, slow speed, medical conditions, money, busy lives or whatever else...can seem almost insur...

Introducing the new Team Leader for Gardens4Health

After a recruitment process starting way back in December 2023, interviews were finally held in January for the Gardens4Health team leader position.  We were privileged to meet some truly amazing people doing really great things out in the community. Our thanks to all of them for sharing their stories and experiences with us.As a result of the process, we are delighted to introduce Ali Nicholls.  Ali is an enthusiastic permaculture gardener, tutor, and designer with a work background i...

Fresh Paint in the Otara office!

With the support of our amazing Landlady, Elaine, we are delighted to report that we now have fresh paint in the main areas of the building.    This is a staged process, being carried out over the next year to freshen up the Otara office.  The last time this happened we realise, was back in 2010 when the Whitiora diabetes team moved across the road to the MIT health building...they've had several moves since then and are now on the corner of Alexander Crescent and Bairds road in w...

World Kidney Day 14 March 2024

World Kidney Day (WKD) is a campaign across the globe aiming to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to health overall and to help reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems. WKD is to be celebrated on 14 March in 2024, and is usually held every year on the 2nd Thursday of March. There is recognition and support to the WKD campaign provided by many individuals and organizations around the world, often organizing different activities ai...

Public Health...not just diabetes

Working in Public Health it's well known that there is never just one issue or condition or complication or factor that impacts living a healthy life.     While diabetes is the main focus of the mahi done by Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa, we acknowledge that there are other areas requiring urgent attention in our communities.  Our Board member Gerhard Sundborn works and does research in a number of important areas in addition to diabetes.  He has just announced a symposiu...

Publication - DCSS - All-cause death attributable to socioeconomic and ethnic disparity Type 1

Another publication from DCSS data from 1994-2019, this one concluded that "results suggest that socioeconomic disparities were responsible for a substantial proportion of all-cause, premature and CVD mortality in people with T1DM in Auckland, NZ. Reducing socioeconomic barriers to management and self-management would likely improve clinical outcomes"...

January 2024...how are we going for Climate Action?

January, in health promotion in the community it's a time of reporting for contracts, getting ready for return to normal work in 2024, writing draft budgets for the end of the financial year, and for us it's been a flurry of recruiting activity for our newest team member.  It's busy, but also on the list is the ongoing review of the important things that help underpin our organisation and how we work.This month, on the schedule, is a review of the question of where do we sit as an organisat...

Want to know about Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa in just 1 page? Download our leaflet

Who are we, what do we do, what does our organisation stand for?   Our website, Facebook page and blog have plenty of information, but this downloadable trifold leaflet gives the basic details of our vision, what we seek to do (our Pou), contact details, and current projects as in July 2023.  ...