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 of the Treaty of Waitangi, to address inequities in the management, treatment of prevention of diabetes".
We want to prevent and reverse Diabetes - its prevalence and its damage - for Aotearoa New Zealand’s most high-risk communities.
We have strong roots and connections from over 30 years of working alongside our community in Auckland which gives us direct knowledge and close experience of living with diabetes and what works.
To Prevent Diabetes, we seek:
to influence factors in our systems which increase the risk of diabetes
to prevent or delay progression to diabetes for people at risk
to prevent the worst manifestation of diabetes and risks of tissue damage for people with diabetes
To Reverse Diabetes, we seek:
to achieve significant long-term improvement in insulin sensitivity and to normalise the levels of glucose in the blood for people with diabetes
Health & Wellness
We run programmes promoting health & wellness for people in the supportive environment of community and whānau. We consider Te Whare Tapa Whā principles of taha wairua/spiritual wellbeing, taha hinengaro/mental and emotional wellbeing, taha tinana/physical wellbeing and taha whānau/family and social wellbeing.
Research
We undertake research, and co-design of high-quality community studies on diabetes to find ways to do things differently.
Advocacy
We campaign for better equity and access to best practice treatment options. We share the experience of our community to all audiences acting for better outcomes for Diabetes in Aotearoa.
Capacity Growth
We build capability for people and groups so our impact can extend through the community. We are building the capacity of our organisation to have more impact.
We act in good faith with, and are respectful of the principles of Te Tiriti O Waitangi. Partnership is key in the work we do in the Community in relation to Diabetes and it's prevention.
Working with Māori is essential to our success. Only together can we build the support and relationships vital to reversing Diabetes and it's consequences, and remedy the under-representation of Māori working in the health sector, particularly in relation to Diabetes treatment, advice, prevention, and education.
Te Tiriti O Waitangi is integral to our values which form part of our Whakatauki, Ehara Taku toa I te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini (My success is not mine alone, it is the success of the collective)
(Words gifted by Graham King)
