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Introducing our Patron - Professor David Simmons

We are delighted that Distinguished Professor David Simmons has accepted the role of Patron for Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa.   The role is new, however the relationship between our organisation and Professor Simmons is not.Professor Simmons has a long and respected history working as a diabetes specialist physician, researcher and advocate.   As the original founder of Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa back in the 1990’s with the support of Sir John Scott, Betty Hunapo, Christina Ta...

In the News:

Article by Stephen Forbes, Local Democracy Reporter for Stuff, with the headline "100 new health coaches to help Pasifika with diabetes in south Auckland".The intention is that these coaches will train up to prevent diabetes.  Dr John Baker, Chair of Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa notes that the funding for health coaches is "commendable", however with his experience seeing the impact of diabetes on people in the area, he feels more is needed. With on the current numbers of people with diabet...

Te Reo translation of our name

 "Te Tumu Matehuka o Aotearoa"As described by Board member, Kaumatua Graham King (Ngati Tai), the literal translation of Matehuka is ‘death by sugar’.  This is apparently not necessarily the actual translation when referring to medical terms prefaced by the word ‘mate’ as it often refers to the possible end outcome.When using ‘mate’ in a medical sense it needs to considered that it can also mean disease or illness or malaise of some kind and that a number of serious medical...

Our new Whakataukī

A whakataukī is a proverb, or saying of significance in Māori culture. Whakataukī have been described as being a poetic form of the Māori language, are holistic, can merge events of the past, and have underlying messages. In terms of our own history, it is with great respect that we acknowledge the whakataukī gifted years ago by Kaumatua, the late Bill Wiki, and express appreciation for the guiding influence of the kupu over the years.   There does however come a time as...

Our Vision and values

Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa has been in the community for over three decades now.  But who are we, what underpins what we do, what makes us who we are as we go about our mahi?   In 2019 our Board of Trustees worked together to answer these questions.  The following is a summary of some of the important aspects of who we are.  For more information go here.Our Trust Deed states that we "work in partnership with Māori, Pacifika, Asian and other communities in the spirit o...

Special thanks to Board Member Pat Spellman

Much appreciation is expressed on behalf of the Board and team to Pat Spellman for the mahi he has done over the last two years, as a member of the Board of Trustees of Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa. Pat has signaled his intention to resign from his Trustee position.   He does this to focus on other passions and after sharing his specialty skills, life experience and passion for his aim to "prevent Māori and Pacific Whanau across Aotearoa having to live a life affected diabetes".&...

Covid, colds and flu and the Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa workplace

We are very happy to be getting back to our normal activities after the prolonged restrictions and lockdowns of recent years.  Our office is open to all and we look forward to having visitors and getting out and about in the community much more.We understand that while restrictions continue to lift, Covid-19 (and colds/flu/infectious disease) continue to be present in our community and some people are particularly vulnerable.  Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa believes strongly in protectin...

Congratulations to new Nurse Practitioner Kate!

Fantastic news, Kate Smallman, our Clinical Projects Manager, is now a Nurse Practitioner!Kate has been a familiar face in the diabetes scene since she started with the then 'Diabetes Projects Trust' back in 2020 as part of a team with Olivia Hala (RN), working on our Lifestyle Programme.    Kate's experience had been considerable in the UK, and she brought many skills with her and has continued to share and develop those skills in the more than 20 years she's now worked with us.Skills...

In the News:

Another article by Stephen Forbes Local Democracy Reporter, published by Stuff, with a really powerful headline "Critics blame diabetes deaths on Pharmac taking years to fund new drug".     Our Board Chair Dr John Baker has advocated tirelessly for more availability of more modern medications, and greater equity in terms of access for those most in need. According to this article, “It’s Māori and Pacific Islanders who are bearing the costs of death and dialysis,” Baker...

A tale of organisational stocktaking in the community

We are working our way through the impact of Covid-19, and one of the residual impacts is that there has been a disconnection and fracturing of relationships in the community between and among organisations, entities, businesses and the people they work with.  This is due to a number of reasons, including lost funding, organisations 'pivoting' for survival or changing focus, changes of personnel, changes to face to face behaviour, and loss of contact details and usual methods of contact.&nb...

In the News:

The headline "Pharmac says all patients who meet criteria will get next generation diabetes drugs, despite concerns".   This article by Stephen Forbes, Local Democracy Reporter for Stuff describes concerns around access to the important new diabetes medications.   Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa Board member Graham King (Ngāti Tai) who was diagnosed with diabetes in 1990 describes his concerns around access to this medication, he was introduced to it on a trial and is...

Diabetes Summit 2021 - The Patient Perspective

Our third Diabetes Summit, this one focused on the theme of the all important perspective of the person with diabetes.     You can see the video hereWelcome to Summit 2021 - Pat Spellman (Board member, Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa, Ngāti Maru)Hosted by - John Baker (Chairman, Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa) and Selah Hart (CEO, Hāpai Te Hauora)ProgrammeThe DCSS Primary Care AuditTreatment of Type 2 diabetes in Tamaki MakaurauPresented by Distinguished Professor David Simmons ...

In the News:

Professor David Simmons of Western Sydney University School of Medicine (previously specialist in Counties Manukau and current advisor to Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa)  has spoken to Stephen Forbes, Local Democracy Reporter for Stuff, about his belief that the system is failing people with diabetes and an "independent watchdog to help stop growth of disease" is needed.  The article reports the Ministry of Health as saying "diabetes is the country’s fastest-growing health conditi...

New Project Announcement - Getting new medications to those most in need?

The new medications, Jardiance and Trulicity have at last been approved by Pharmac.  This is an excellent start, and has been thanks to the dedication over a number years of a number of people...clinicians, patients, organisations, and advocates.The next question however is, how to get those medications to those who will really benefit most.   It is well known that some groups are more likely to uptake new treatments, others not so much.  This tends to widen the disparity bet...

An Important Change to Diabetes Medications has happened

Call your doctor right now to see if you are eligible. If you are eligible, these new medications willreduce your risk of needing insulin[1], andreduce your risk of dying from heart attack or kidney failure[2]....

Publication - DCSS - Article on Metabolic Profiles of different ethnic groups

This article published in American Diabetes Association Diabetes Care has the title "Metabolic Profiles of Māori, Pacific, and European New Zealanders With Type 2 Diabetes Over 25 Years".    PDF of the paper can be downloaded from the link.https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/44/10/e183/138550/Metabolic-Profiles-of-Maori-Pacific-and-European...

Annual Activity Report - April 2020-March 2021

Please find a link to our Annual Activity report for the April 2020 to March 2021 year.   This report covers much of the time spent under lockdown conditions as a result of Covid-19, particularly in the Auckland area.   Financial information is in a separate document, or available online on the Charities Commission website....

In the News:

The article title "Pharmac's decision over diabetes drugs could see up to 140,000 'miss out', doctor says".  Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa Board Chair and South Auckland endocrinologist, Dr John Baker talks to Steve Forbes of the Herald.  He asks where the  ethics lie as a specialist of deciding who gets the new medications, which can make a major difference to the health of people with type 2 diabetes...and who doesn't. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/pharmacs-decision-over-dia...

Our thanks to Rinki Murphy, Honorary Medical director 2019-2021

The time has gone by in a flash since Associate Professor Rinki Murphy agreed to accept the 2-year position of Honorary Medical Director for the Foundation back in 2019.  Rinki brought her skills is an endocrinologist working both with adolescent patients for Counties Manukau Health,  and adult patients for Greenlane/Auckland.  With some of her time spent at University of Auckland, and being an avid researcher, Rinki's passion about achieving improvements in outcomes made her...

Impact of Covid-19 restrictions and lockdown on community Health Promotion

Karen and Kate took a presentation at the recent NZSSD Conference describing a community perspective regarding the impact of Covid-19 on the ability to carry out routine health promotion activities.The presentation discussed how the 'normal' situation where health promotion and working face-to-face with people has gone together, was severely impacted by Covid-19 restrictions.  Lockdown and inability to access venues and groups and community members meant reduced or no capacity to carry out ...

In the News:

Graham King (Ngāti Tai), Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa Board member, has lived with diabetes since being diagnosed in 1990.   In this Stephen Forbes (Local Democracy Reporter for RNZ) article he advocates here in the interests of Maori, noting that "many people in Māoridom were reluctant to seek medical help because of negative experiences they, or their whānau, had experienced with the health system - and a lot of them just can't afford it".https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/441011...

It's Strategic planning Day 2021! Meet our amazing Board members

At last, a strategy meeting, kanohi ki te kanohi, after months and months of online 'pivots' and restarts to the planning process thanks to Covid-19 restrictions.Any organisation has to plan ahead and be ready to change and adapt. In our area of diabetes in the community this has never been more important than it is now. We need to respond to the changes in the environment, increased pressures on the people we work with at community level, manage recovery from the widespread impacts of the ...

Welcome to New Board members

We are delighted to welcome three new Board members.  There is more detailed information here but below is a brief introduction to Graham, Henry and Fale.Graham King (Ngāti Tai) - Works for the police and has had a number of roles with them over the years.   Graham is married with two adult children and have 5 mokopuna.  He has type 2 diabetes, has been a participant in medication trials and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Board (started 2020).Henry K...

In the News:

RNZ article by Stephen Forbes, Local Democracy Reporter.   Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa Board Chair, Dr John Baker advocating for new medications beneficial to people with type 2 diabetes, including the potential to "reduce a patient's progression to end stage kidney disease by 15 years".Dr Baker is a long term advocate for improved access to new medications and points out some issues due to the current model of funding, pointing out that accountability is unclear.  "There is no m...

Publication - Article on Ethnic Inequity in the face of need

An article in the NZMJ (New Zealand Medical Journal) in response to comments made regarding analysis of DCSS data in a paper published in Lancet Global Health on 15 October 2020.  Authors Rawiri McKree Jansen, Gerhard Sundborn, Rick Cutfield, Dahai Yu and David Simmons have some important points to make about health outcome inequity, and how disparities can have been left for so many years.  It notes that for those with clear additional need "obstructing access is inequitable and ...