http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz en-us Wed, 07 Oct 2026 22:34:54 +1300 Rocketspark http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/post/171273/such-sad-news-patariki-pat-spellman-rip/ The Board of Trustees and team at Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa are so very sorry to hear about the passing of Pat Spellman.   Pat contributed hugely to the community in so many ways. For our organisation, we were privileged to have his unfailing support as a member of our Board of Trustees during both his previous and current terms with us.   We remember Pat as an extraordinary man, who cared passionately about, and was very, very good at, all he did.   We look back... Tue, 06 Oct 2026 08:11:21 +1300 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/#post171273 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/post/169429/fizz-symposium-2026--should-sugary-drinks-be-expelled-from-schools/ Our team had a great experience at the FIZZ Symposium held yesterday, 31 September 2026.  There were participants from a range of backgrounds, all gathered to engage in the important debate around how to mitigate the known harm of excess sugar for young people, something not helped by the current approach of having high sugar drinks available in the school environment.   We need these sorts of advocacy efforts to inform and drive change, and a great lineup had been organised by Dr... Tue, 01 Sep 2026 08:07:29 +1200 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/#post169429 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/post/169757/world-diabetes-day-is-coming-along-on-14-november-2026/ It's time to start thinking about what we are doing for World Diabetes Day WDD on 14 November.   This year is all about promoting early diagnosis and risk reduction, messages we can all get behind.  The earlier diagnosis happens, the sooner treatment can start and the risk of complications is reduced.   There's more information about WDD here.    Risk factors according to WDD are (directly from website here):"Symptoms for type 2 diabetes can be mild o... Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/#post169757 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/post/170985/special-thanks-to-our-supporters-and-funders/ We couldn't do what we do without you.   Particular thanks go to:Health NZ/Te Whatu Ora (Lifestyle programme)Auckland Council (Different Dinners, Gardens4Health),Local Boards (Gardens4Health)Louisa & Patrick Emmett Murphy Foundation 2025 Grant Round (Just Cook)The Trusts Community FoundationBoehringer IngelheimNZSSD (conference support)Rocketspark (website hosting)Gardens4Health in-kind supporters (see FB page)For more details from the April 2025- March 2026 year see our Annual Act... Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/#post170985 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/post/169559/presentation-at-the-idf-wpr-adc-conference-2026/ What amazing mahi from Ruby McGill, advocate for type 1 Diabetes and member of our Board of Trustees (BOT), who shared her incredible knowledge and experience on navigating diabetes at a major international conference last week.   The presentation took the perspective from being "wahine māori - mātauranga, hauora and hapori (knowledge, health and community)" and according to reports was "standing room only" at the IDF-WPR 2026 & ADC in Melbourne, August 2026.  Congratulation... Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/#post169559 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/post/168699/everywill-everyone-needs-a-will/ September is nearly here and this month has commonly been viewed as 'make-a-will' month.   Why is it important, three great reasons here:  It’s an essential legal document that all adults should have, ensuring distribution of property and protection of those who are important to you in the event you pass away. Peace of mind.  You may not think you own a lot, but you likely have more than you realize, things like your treasures, books, clothes, home, furnishings, v... Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:42:57 +1200 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/#post168699 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/post/169762/publication--albuminuria-trajectories-following-intensive-lifestyle-with-or-without-bariatric/ Another paper published from Kanchana Perera et al from the Bariatric youth study providing intensive lifestyle support to a group of youth with or at risk of type 2 diabetes.    See original here Abstract directly from the paper "Aim Albuminuria reflects early renal injury and may precede type 2 diabetes, particularly among Māori and Pacific adolescents in New Zealand who experience a high burden of severe obesity. Evidence for renal benefits of bariatric surgery in adolescents ... Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/#post169762 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/post/167169/sugary-drinks-in-schools--fizz-symposium-2026/ This is a must attend event for anyone with an interest in the food environment in schools. We've regularly highlighted FIZZ (Fighting Sugar in Soft-drinks) activities, most recently the BZBGP group Policy Briefing to parliament,  they are working away on a topic that has strong opinions around it, access in schools to drinks with sugar in them.    We know the health impacts of over consumption of sugar in young people, from development of unhealthy habits that can last a lifetime... Mon, 06 Jul 2026 08:29:23 +1200 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/#post167169 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/post/166515/waitemata-local-board-supporting-community-gardening/ Shout out to Waitematā Local Board who in a recent article titled "five ways your voices have helped us deliver for Waitematā" talk about community gardens alongside other important community projects and actions.   This Local Board has been one of a number across Tāmaki Makaurau who recognise the importance of food gardening for the city.   In this article they rightly point our the "high cost of living and rising costs of fresh and nutritious groceries, giving peopl... Fri, 19 Jun 2026 12:25:50 +1200 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/#post166515 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/post/166238/diabetes-christchurch-70-years/ Sometimes something really amazing comes along that really gives pause for thought.    In this case, the latest quarterly newsletter - here - from Diabetes Christchurch has come across our desk, packed with so much incredible history that it just has to be shared and enjoyed.  SEVENTY years in the community, and so much has been achieved, so many people worked with, so much support and guidance given and so many hard efforts made to make things better for peopl... Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:12:41 +1200 http://www.diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz/blog/#post166238