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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...

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...

Christmas 2023

Our office is closed Friday December 22 and re-opens on Monday January 8 2024.Thank you to everyone who has made 2023 such an amazing year, it's been a challenge in places, but so many excellent things have happened we can't wait to see what 2024 will bring.We wish everyone a safe and happy festive season.  Meri Kirihimete ki te katoa...

Catching up with the Kidney Society

A major complication of diabetes is damage to the kidneys.  While diabetes isn't the only cause of kidney problems, a significant number of people with kidney failure or on dialysis have diabetes.    The Kidney Society has been working in the community for over 40 years and an important role for them is "connecting people to the vital information, education and support services they need to preserve their kidney health and live a better quality of life diagnosed with kidney d...

Congratulations Diana

We have a new Lifestyle Team Leader!  Many of you know already Diana Anderson from her roles in Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa for the last 14 years, but it may not be so well known that she is a Registered Nutritionist  with the Nutrition Society of New Zealand and has a masters in nutrition science. Diana's thesis was on 'Food industry and Consumer attitudes towards and consumer knowledge of  food labels', a very relevant topic working with nutrition in the community.  When D...

Report on participating in the New Zealand and Australia Joint Nutrition Societies Conference - 2023

Written by Cassie Slade, Lifestyle Facilitator, schools. Every four years the Nutrition Society of New Zealand and the Nutrition Society of Australia host a joint conference. This year it was held at Massey University in Auckland and the theme was ‘Nutrition & Wellbeing in Oceania’.   The programme had speakers from across the Pacific with sessions ranging from Nutrition in our Land & Water, to Nutrition in Education Settings and Nutrition & Wellbeing. There were a...

Publication - DCSS - Health Inequality in Eight Adverse OUtcomes

Clinical Epidemiology - new paper just published titled "Health Inequality in Eight Adverse Outcomes Over a 25-Year Period in a Multi-Ethnic Population in New Zealand Population with Impaired Glucose Tolerance and/or Impaired Fasting Glucose: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis" examining socioeconomic inequality relating to impaired glucose tolerance and/or impaired fasting glucose from DCSS cohort linked to other national databases.   https://www.dovepress.com/articles.php?article_id=88772...

Over a century in years of service...

Our small organisation has been around since the 1990's.   Seven of our nine team members have been with the organisation for over 10 years, one nearly 30 years, three more than 20 years.  If the entire nine team members have their employed years with the Foundation added up, we end up with 140 years, or an average of over 15 years per person.   It was a great privilege to acknowledge at our 2023 Christmas function, the contribution of the team members who as of December...

In the Australian News

"The Diabetes disaster", "Human catastrophe in motion", "Out of control, how this diabolical disease is dwarfing the pandemic", "Ravages of silent epidemic".  "The epidemic pushing Australian hospitals to the brink of collapse".   These are the headlines about Type 2 diabetes from a series of hard hitting articles published 2-3 December 2023 in The Australian.  ...

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 ZealandThe go-to site for people with diabetes in New Zealand.  The extensive website has resources and information and they have subscription based magazine for people with diabetes.Diabetes NZ Auckland BranchUnder the auspices of Diabetes New Zealand, the Auckland branch run key lo...

Te Rito Ora - Whaanau Hauora Day

Excellent day spent by team members Trish and Cassie, promoting health with other community organisations in Papatoetoe at this Te Rito Ora and PAPSDA organised event.  Thanks to the organisers!For those who aren't familiar with the organisation, Te Rito Ora is a community-based service that provides breastfeeding and feeding for baby support for South Auckland Mothers.  The free service can go from pregnancy till baby turns 2.   More information, and the resources they...

Announcement of Clinical Director Appointment

We are excited to announce the appointment of Mātanga Tapuhi (Nurse Practitioner), Kate Smallman to the role of Clinical Director.   Kate will be providing guidance to the Board and team, along with clinical and technical oversight.  She will also be heavily involved in research, strategy and professional leadership.  We are very proud of Kate, who has worked with the Foundation since 2000. Kate has carved out a career pathway starting as a Registered Nurse, working thr...

Kime says hi from the Diabetes Service in Whangarei

Lifestyle Team Leader Diana and her fur babies (one who seems awfully interested in Kime's lunchbox) got a chance to pay a catch up call to Diabetes Dietitian, Kime Esau who is now based in Whangarei in the Diabetes service.  Kime was a familiar face in schools across Tamaki Makaurau having run the Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa Healthy Schools programme until early 2023.   Great to see where our amazing team members end up!...