Hello, this page is about issues relating to life with diabetes and in particular, ones which need someone to stand up and speak out. The UN passed a resolution on diabetes - http://www.idf.org/united-nations-resolution-diabetes

This landmark Resolution recognizes diabetes as a chronic, debilitating and costly disease associated with major complications that pose severe risks for families, countries and the entire world. It designates 14 November, the current World Diabetes Day, as a United Nations Day to be observed every year.

If you have experienced a situation that you feel was unfair, or even discriminatory, relating to your diabetes, please write to us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We would like to work with you on putting togethor letters and articles to highlight issues and make them noticed in the general community, by politicians, leaders and those in the diabetes field. We may do this ourselves and/or suggest a way that you can do this yourself. The more people speak out, the better.

As an example, some of the issues may include:

• equal access to technology for management of diabetes
• lack of access to specialist care in rural and remote areas
• management of diabetes in schools and the workplace
• driving and diabetes regulations and standardisation of these
• access to counselling services specialising in diabetes

To kick the page off, here is a story from one of our Ambassadors, Jack Perkins, who had to stand up for himself in regards to his driving career when diagnosed with diabetes. I am sure you will agree this is an inspirational story...read more about Jack at our Ambassadors page here: Diabetes Counselling - The Counsellor

Type 1 Diabetes is purely a lifestyle change for me. I have to be very focussed, dilligent and committed with my racing and my management of Type 1. Not only do I put my own life at risk on the track at 300km/h, but also the other 29 drivers and the thousands of spectators that watch us race mean I must not be at risk of having a hypo or losing concentration in any way.

My management is so precise and my routine is so strict that there isa very minimal chance i can get it wrong, and for the record, in over 25 races I never have got it wrong. The lowest I have ever been at the end of a race is 6.3. But this isn't through luck, on a 3 day race weekend I can check my blood sugar up to 60 times, averaging close to 20 per day. I halve my insulin doses the night before we hit the track and also my normal daily injections are halved.

I'm 22 years old and I'm literally living my dream. To be doing what I've dreamed of my entire life at this young age is simply awesome. To have done it as a Type 1 Diabetic makes it better, to know that I've let nothign get in my way of chasing the dream. I'm not unrealistic though, whilst I am one of the 30 V8Supercar drivers, I need to push for strong results to maintain my drive for the future and I hope to build a stable and steady career for many years to come.
Jack Perkins V8 Supercar Driver and Person with type 1 diabetes

 

Please share your stories with us and contact us for support with issues relating to your diabetes and discrimination or advocacy.

Advocacy via Diabetes Australia

You can contact the Advocacy Officer from Diabetes Australia in your state  http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/About-Diabetes-Australia/What-Diabetes-Australia-Does/Advocacy/