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In the News: Nine to Noon interview with Dr Baker, "No logic"

"No logic in it" is one of the comments from our Board Chair, Dr John Baker, who was interviewed on nine to noon - interview here.   He's referring to changes to prescribing that has got the diabetes community very concerned, more here https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/health/595851/pharmac-proposes-removing-priority-access-of-type-2-diabetes-meds-for-maori-pacific.     ...

In the News: John Baker on the retrograde changes to prescribing of key type 2 diabetes medications

A hard hitting article by Jody Hopikinson of Pharmacy Today talks about the proposed changes to the prescribing criteria for key medications for type 2 diabetes (empagliflozin (Jardiance), empagliflozin with metformin (Jardiamet), dulaglutide (Trulicity) and liraglutide (Victoza)).   In the article she interviews Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa Board Chair, Dr John Baker and others who are extremely disappointed in what Dr Baker describes as "a great leap backwards" from Ph...

In the News: Graham King on the major step back for diabetes medication access

Strong advocacy from our Board member, Graham King.   Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa is about improving the care for people with diabetes and Graham has a personal story which gives added power to his voice. In his interview for this article for RNZ by Māori Issues reporter Pokere Paewai, Graham talks about why it is such a significant step backwards with proposed removal of criteria that allow reduced barriers access for those most at risk of complications.      Other vo...

Collaborative Workplaces Pilot study poster NZSSD

For World Diabetes Day 2025, four community based organisations (Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa, MHT Diabetes Trust, Diabetes Christchurch and Diabetes Wellington) collaborated with a range of initiatives, including a workplace toolkit with basic information helpful to workplaces, and an online survey supporting the theme “know more and do more for diabetes at work”.   Marie Torr and Karen Pickering were fortunate enough to attend the NZSSD conference in Napier on beha...

Thank you to Elite Business Systems

Being a small community organisation has a lot of benefits, not least the ability to work right in the heart of the community and be nimble and responsive to do things that other, bigger entities may struggle with.   But there are also a few downsides, like the money we bring in goes as much as possible into delivering actual services that make a difference, which means keeping costs way down for the 'roof over our heads' stuff.    Sometimes you run across a business who goes...

Congratulations Professor Rinki Murphy on your Bob Smith lecture

The NZSSD (New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes) Bob Smith lecture is a real achievement, being awarded to someone at the annual conference who has done extraordinary things in diabetes in Aotearoa.   This year, as it was the 50th anniversary meeting, Bob Smith himself was present, along with some other familiar faces.   There have been some very well known names who gave the Bob Smith lecture over the years, and this year is no exception.    Professor Rink...

Gardens4Health, a getting-ready-for-winter garden party

Well done and thanks to everyone who was part of a fun gardening morning at Sarah Selwyn Retirement home. Much enjoyment had by all, and a great contribution to the prospect of healthy, homegrown food onsite later in the year.   The ladies and one gent wore their fancy hats for a garden party, Gardens4Health style while they were served tea and coffee outdoors.In the garden, new soil and sheep pellets were added to provide the best possible growing conditions and Kylie demonstrated pla...

Do you want to support our efforts to prevent diabetes and its complications?

Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa (Charities Commission number CC11085) has been working in the community for over 30 years to reduce the incidence of diabetes, and diabetes complications, especially for those most at risk.   We run a range of programmes, carry out research, design resources, and advocate for improvements.  There is more information on what we do on our website here.To do the work we do, requires ongoing support from our community.   Examples of this inc...

Introducing Kylie, G4H facilitator West and Central

Kylie Maltman is a one of our fabulous Gardens4Health Facilitators, mainly working in the Auckland West and Central areas.Kylie is a trained chef with a genuine passion for community health and nutrition, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience as a gardener to her work. Kylie also has added bonus of being in the extremely complementary role of being an Education Facilitator with amazing Garden to Table programme in West and Central Auckland, where she supports scho...

Introducing Quinn, G4H Facilitator

Kia ora!   Ko Quinn tōku ingoa and I am ecstatic to be a Garden4Health facilitator along with the rest of our amazing tīma at the Diabetes Foundation. I whakapapa to Calgary Canada but haven’t called it home in a long time. I have been a commercial gardener and landscaper in New Zealand for nearly 8 years now. I started my own company 3 years ago and love watching everyone's garden spaces flourish. I am passionate about sustainable living and teaching people that we are all capable...

In the news: Dr Baker interviewed about Pharmac funding for weight loss medication

Pharmac is considering funding for Wegovy, one of the weight loss medications currently in wide use around the world.    Dr John Baker, chair of the Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa Board of Trustees (BOT), was interviewed this morning - go here to see the interview.   ...

Publication - Ethnic differences in risk of renal progression - young people - DCSS Audit data

New paper from  Kanchana Perera et al,  published in  Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.   Kanchana is completing her third year towards her PhD and this research looks at those aged 18–40 years, NZE, Māori, and Pacific, with type 2 diabetes in Primary care where audits were carried out by the Diabetes Care Support Service (DCSS) between 1994 and 2018.   Citation - Ethnic differences in risk of renal disease progression amongst young-onset type 2 diabe...

New Gardens4Health facilitators

We are super happy to have new team members, Quinn Gilmour and Kylie Maltman, both working in our Gardens4Health team.Quinn runs her own landscaping business and has some amazing skills and experience to add to the team, and Kylie brings fantastic knowledge and a passion for growing right through to what ends up on the plate.    We look forward to working with both of you, more information to follow! ...

Annual Activity Report 2024-2025

The April 2024 to March 2025 provided a year of new challenges, projects, and resources. Our team rose to meet the demands with excellent results. Please download the latest report from the link below.   For the audited financials for the year period, please  see the copy lodged with the Charities Commission on their website. ...

World Diabetes Day - a conversation with Distinguished Professor David Simmons

This clip contains one of the key messages from a new video in our podcast series.   Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa Patron and founder, Distinguished Professor David Simmons sits down to have a conversation with Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa CEO, Karen Pickering. They cover a lot of topics including history going back to the 1990's, with memories of some of the key figures in diabetes, particularly in South Auckland.  They talk about how things have changed, how understanding and pro...

Working together - WDD 2025 workplace Mini-Toolkit

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) World Diabetes Day is on 14 November.   The IDF website describes millions of people with diabetes as having to face challenges with living well and managing their diabetes in their workplaces.    Common issues include the physical/technical/convenience challenges but also go deeper to include stigma, discrimination and exclusion.  Wellbeing is negatively impacted, but so is the workplace itself. World Diabetes Day on the 14th ...

Ron Keat Gardens growing story

Hari (far right of photo) has been working with some amazing people out at Ron Keat Gardens in South Auckland.   Citycare Property describe themselves as being determined to work toward "growing a more sustainable and connected community".   In this case this has involved collaboration, among others, Auckland Council and Gardens4Health for mahi Ron Keat Gardens on Ron Keat Drive.They've delivered two new planter boxes, what a great way for Citycare Property to ...

Help us understand more about diabetes in workplaces in Aotearoa New Zealand

World Diabetes Day (WDD) is on the 14 of this month.   The theme is diabetes in the workplace, and community organisations Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa, MHT Diabetes Trust, Diabetes Christchurch and Diabetes Wellington have worked on a mini-toolkit to help businesses.    One thing identified as part of the collaboration between organisations was that it would be a good idea to learn more about the current situation in workplaces in our own areas and the wider c...

It's November we're thinking about diabetes

Well, here at Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa, we think about diabetes every month, every day actually, but November has two significant events relating to diabetes, World Diabetes Day, with a theme of diabetes in the workplace, and Diabetes NZ Diabetes Action month fundraising for youth diagnosis.   We will be involved in some activities to do with these topics, but we're also choosing this month to release three video conversations with three amazing people for whom diabetes is an ...

Resilience, gardening, and community coming together

This video posted to Facebook by the Community Resilience Network acknowledges the Takanini Gurdwara Sahib for making 2 hectares of land available for a new Community Garden.   This came about after in 2024  at community workshops there was shared a dream expressed for local gardens and learning to grow food. In the video site clearing and preparation was underway and Gardens4Health is one of the supporters who speaks on how important this is to the community. Thanks were expresse...

"Know more and do more for diabetes at work"

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) World Diabetes Day (WDD) topic of 'workplaces' lines up with the mahi being done by our team in our Auckland wide workplaces programme.   Supporting workplaces to develop environments that make the better choice the easy one, and that encourage and promote behaviours that improve health and wellbeing, is important for all workers however as this WDD campaign notes, with many people with diabetes in the workforce, it's timely to recognise what...

Just Cook Healthy Aging and the Silverfit group

Congratulations to the Silverfit group in Otara who recently took part in the Just Cook Healthy Aging programme.  Over the course of four weeks they spent time learning, preparing and cooking health kai to support health while getting older. Lots of stories, experience and laughter was shared throughout the course too and our team had an AMAZING time. You are all inspiring, thank you to everyone!For more information about the course please contact Trish by emailing trish.harry@diabetesfound...

World Diabetes Day 2025 is coming up quickly

The time of the year is coming up where there are international and local efforts to raise the awareness of diabetes.   On 14 November this year it is IDF (International Diabetes Federation) World Diabetes Day and the focus is on diabetes in the workplace.   When you think about it, and look at the statistics, it's a topic well worth addressing.   According to the IDF seven out of ten people with diabetes are of working age.    More information available h...

Strawberry growing time!

At the recent garden workshop run at Epsom Community Library, there was described as being a "backyard was full of strawberry fun as tamariki and families joined us to learn how to grow their own strawberries at home".      Gardens4Health Team Leader Ali was there talking about where to get strawberry plants and how to prepare the garden bed and plant them properly.   It sounds like everyone had a great time, including the "little helpers" involved in who digging, layeri...

Board Of Trustees update

Fale Andrew Lesā, who has volunteered as a member of the Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa Board of Trustees for just over 4 years, starting in May 2021, has resigned with immediate effect. ...